The Pivot Legal Society and the BC Civil Liberties Association say theyB次元官网网址檝e launched three complaints against the Vancouver Police Department alleging illegal surveillance and police brutality against pro-Palestine protesters.

The association and the society say the complaints stem from the B次元官网网址渧iolent dispersalB次元官网网址� of protesters who demonstrated at a Vancouver rail crossing in May.

In a statement, the groups say the two B次元官网网址渟ervice and policyB次元官网网址� complaints to the Vancouver Police Board involve police actions against B次元官网网址減ro-Palestine demonstrators,B次元官网网址� where they were allegedly met with B次元官网网址渆xtensive forms of policing violenceB次元官网网址� and unlawful surveillance tactics through the use of police drones and officer smartphones.

They say another complaint to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner involves VPD Const. Dimitri Sheinerman, who is facing a Police Act investigation after he was photographed with an Israeli flag patch on his uniform with a B次元官网网址減unisherB次元官网网址� skull.

The groups say the police force has B次元官网网址渁llowed anti-Palestinian racism to persist within its ranks,B次元官网网址� and actions against demonstrators have violated their Charter rights to freedom of expression.

Meghan McDermott, BC Civil Liberties Association policy director, says there have been B次元官网网址渟ystemic rights violationsB次元官网网址� against people demonstrating for Palestinian human rights due to police bias and B次元官网网址渦ndemocratic practices.B次元官网网址�

The Vancouver Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the complaints.