Toronto Police Threaten G20 Journalists With Raped

The Toronto Police are already facing heavy criticism for how they handled the G20 riots and for their alleged abuse of citizens. Now several journalists have come forward with horrific allegations of sexual abuse.

Amy Miller of the Dominion and the Alternative Media Centre was arrested as she stopped to see a group of people being searched and detained. At a press conference, Miller claims she was throttled at the neck and stripped of her press pass as she was being arrested. She was then taken to a prison cell, where she spend nearly 13 hours with 25 other women.

During her detention, "I was told I was going to be raped. I was told I was going to be gangbanged. I was told I was never going to want to act as a journalist again by making sure that I would be repeatedly raped while I was in jail."

In addition, she witnessed many young women being completely strip searched by male officers, with one underaged girl confessing that an officer inserted his finger in her.

She notes it was evident that police were profiling young women, typically under the age of 25, who were more likely not to know their rights.

Maryam Adriangi of the Toronto Community Mobilization Network has also accused the police of threatening her with rape, as well as making racist and sexist comments. The Winnipeg Sun reports, "She claimed she was picked up by police in Parkdale and placed in a prisoners' wagon and driven around for five hours and released without charges."

Miller, Adriangi and other journalists are calling for a thorough investigation. Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Toronto Police says they will use surveillance footage to refute the claims.