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So the G20 is here on Saturday, but the official police security starts today. Take a walk downtown and you’ll see 4-40 police on every street corner. Private security at every building. Police trucks drive by, police on horses, police cars etc etc. Nothing but police and fencing.

Now, I completely expected this. It’s been long reported that 10,000 security personnel will be used for the G20. I also expected things to be highly tense.

Regardless I went down today to get some photos, to walk around the fence and to experience it all first hand. I’ve talked to many people who’ve been to protests, some of who were in Pittsburgh last year and they told me “leading up to it is like a war zone, just stay away.”

Wish I had taken that advice. Well… maybe.

Today I was detained by police after taking a photo of the fence and group of police that were standing beside it. Hell, how couldn’t I? They had riot helmets attached to their belts, coloured cuffs.. the whole deal.

Two officers approached me, asked me what I was doing. I told them I was taking a photo. It wasn’t everyday this happens in Toronto. They asked me to walk with them over to the side of a building.

I complied.

They asked for my name. I gave it to them. Again they asked what I was taking photos for. I told them again, “It’s interesting.”

At this point, I was starting to shake. I was intimidated. I had spoken to lawyers beforehand because I knew this was a possibility and I’d rehearsed things to say. In that time, I forgot them all.

To be honest, in that 20 – 30 minutes, all I was thinking was all of the worst possible cases. Would they take me to some underground bunker and beat me? Was I about to be put in jail, perhaps until this thing was over? All sorts of stupid ideas that I know now wouldn’t happen, but that’s what took over my mind.

So I sat there, waiting for some kind of sign. I asked them if I was free to go, they said no. I didn’t think to get the officers names, didn’t think to get their badge numbers… nothing. I just continued to sit. I figured I was going to be arrested for something. (I’d draw them, but you can see, I doubt it would help identify the officers.)

Then, a female cop came up and politely said “oh… you can go now.”

What? Really? You mean I’m not about to get waterboarded?

So I walked away, shook. Nervous. Wow… that was scary. Then I realized… wait, was that just a timeout? Did they forget about me sitting there waiting for some kind of sign I could go? What just happened!?!

My immediate reaction was “Violated all sorts of my rights right there.” And in reality, without knowing all the particulars and just reading my 140 character tweets, it’s reasonable to think the same.

But the trip home was a slow one and gave me time to think. Believe it or not… right now, I’m partially okay with what happened. I’m crazy right? Haha.

No, but hear me out… I wasn’t just going about my daily life. I was there specifically to experience the security presence. I got a first class experience at that! They didn’t single me out because I looked like an anarchist with a shirt that said “Fuck the Police” or “Go to hell G20″ or anything like that (I was wearing shorts and a Polo shirt). But it was that among people in business suits and shirts with key cards attached to belts, I casually looked out of place.

No real reason to suspect me… well until you looked at my walking behaviour… While walking, I admit was indecisive. I’d want to go one way and all of a sudden I’d change to another way. I was moving strangely. These are all things I realize now add to the suspicion.

I was looking around a lot. Like when you look around for your parents as a kid when stealing a cookie. The excitement had taken over and made me look anxious.

So…. in reality, they were doing their due diligence. They inconvenienced me for 30 minutes. That’s the tough reality we live in I guess. I get it…

As I said, my first reaction was disgust. Felt violated. Felt attacked. And I tweeted right away how I felt. But, I took deep breathes and said “Was there anything I was doing that made me stand out as doing something potentially wrong?” and I determined that there was.

I don’t think I’m a victim really. I don’t think this ‘Police State’ is permanent.

I would have appreciated being kept in the loop as to how long I needed to stay there, I would have liked to have been thanked for my cooperation… But I get it. Police are watching for suspicious activity and are being indoctrinated to believe that anyone out of place may be there for malicious intent for the duration of these meeting.

Tensions are high and it’s easy to forget things. I’m a prime example… all my lawyer drawn up scripts I completely forgot.

So this is a direct action request to the various Police forces that have invaded our streets… remember we are your fellow Canadian citizens (for the most part). We deliver your mail, teach your kids, stock the grocery shelves, handle your finances, fix your cars. We are not your enemies. Don’t treat us like we are until you have sufficient evidence that we are a threat.

Doing your due diligence is fine. As I said, I’m strangely okay with the fact you held me for 30 minutes. What I’m not okay with was the lack of communication. I didn’t know what was going on and in my mind I started to hate you because of it.

Just treat us like you’d want other officers to treat your family if they were down there. With a soft touch until proven otherwise.