Cutting Back

Local Artist Launches Print Booklet to Protest Police Brutality

Fringe ArtsRiley Wignall — Published March 6, 2014

Local screen printer and artist Chris Robertson of La Presse Du Chat Perdu is embracing this tradition with a new woodblock print book tackling police brutality.

Titled Protest Against Police Brutality and presented by the Howl! Arts Collective in collaboration with the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (COBP), the book will be launched today in anticipation of the annual protest against police brutality which is coming up on March 15.

The unique booklet is entirely made up of woodcut prints, depicting experiences and stories as told by those who participated in last year’s anti-brutality protest.

Emphasis has been placed upon the “kettling” technique, sometimes called “corralling,” used for crowd control by police in turbulent protest situations.

The woodcut drawings will focus on depicting the repression and violence of police forces, as well as the vivid and resilient spirit of protesters who still insist upon taking to the streets in search of justice.

Cut and hand printed in Montreal, it’s an entirely local endeavour.

Besides ramping up for the march, the booklet stands as response to the P6 regulation, which makes spontaneous protests illegal, cutting back the right to peaceful public assembly.

Under the P6 bylaw, protestors are not only denied the right to publicly assemble, but are also denied anonymity as they are forbidden to wear masks and must provide a route to authorities if they intend to march.

“Protest Against Police Brutality” Launch // March 6 // Le Cagibi (5490 St. Laurent Blvd.) // 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. // Free