INSITE SHOW HALTED BY COPS

Permits for benefit featuring Bedouin Soundclash rejected:
Police

A free concert that was to be put on by Bedouin Soundclash last night
in front of the Insite clinic in the Downtown Eastside didn't happen
after police say event organizers didn't have proper permits to put on
the show.

"The city had declined a permit that was requested by the group,"
Const. Jana McGuinness said last night. "The city is concerned that
pedestrians or motorists may be unduly put at risk by the event."

The band's lead singer, Jay Malinowski, called the end to the show
"unnecessarily aggressive for something that is a humanitarian cause.

"They took $40,000 worth of sound equipment and threw it away . We
wanted to play. We're here to play. We had all the permits."

Outside, at the corner of East Hastings and Columbia streets, dozens
of police in riot gear stood on the street as people crowded on the
sidewalk in front Insite.

"I think it's pretty wild," said Lindsay Kasting, 22, of the
scene.

"You don't have a permit for a demonstration. I think it's out of
proportion how (police) reacted."

According to Kailin See of Insite for Community Safety, the non-profit
organization that put on the $10,000 event, police were contacted
about the concert well in advance.

"We were absolutely ignored until 24 hours before the event when they
just swarmed down upon us with unbelievable pressure to stop it," she
said.

"Traffic barricades (were) thrown out. Sound equipment (was)
mishandled, thrown out . We are a charity. We're not rich. We really
dug deep into our pockets to make this event happen."