new: I talked to a 19-year-old who saw a cop shoving kid at a skate park Sunday. He says the OPP officer was unprovoked, and came in aggressively IDing kids and demanding they mask up outside. He said he and others rely on the park, which is now closed: https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgx8k7/video-shows-cop-shoving-kid-on-scooter-under-ontarios-new-covid-rules">https://www.vice.com/en/articl...
The witness told me a few of the older kids were "lipping off" the officer, but that the kid in question complied with all of his demands. “That little boy did not deserve to be shoved basically full force to the ground. That cop stiff-armed him.”
In the video, you can hear someone shout "Do not touch me." The witness said that was the cop, but he said the child didn& #39;t touch him or talk back to him in any way. He said a lot of the younger kids were "frightened" by the cop& #39;s demeanor.
the incident shows how these outdoor activity bans are hurting kids. "That’s how I get my exercise in and learn and focus on something else instead of sitting inside 24/7 after work, so it’s kind of my way to release all of my energy from being cooped up inside from COVID."
last quick point—there is no law requiring people/kids to wear masks at parks. as with the first wave, when the rules are confusing, it leaves room for cops/bylaw officers to interpret them however they want: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkejjv/aurora-mom-says-she-was-fined-dollar880-for-standing-too-long-in-a-park-with-baby">https://www.vice.com/en/articl...