DONT TALK 2 COPS
tag 1 tag 2 tag 3The police are not there to help you
You have the right to a lawyer in Canada—but that only protects you if you know how and when to use it. Cops are trained to use your confusion against you.
Innocent? That makes you a target
Most people think, “I didn’t do anything, I’ll just tell the truth.” But police are trained to twist your words. Even the truth can be used to convict you.
If you’re marginalized, you’re already a target
They treat your existence like a threat. If you are:
- Racialized
- Trans or queer
- Disabled
- Poor
- Neurodivergent
- Non-English speaking
- A person who uses substances
- Dealing with trauma
- In crisis
- Or have cognitive impairments
You are more likely to be harmed, ignored, and criminalized.
What if you can’t understand what’s happening?
Mental health challenges, trauma responses, and cognitive impairments make it harder to assert your rights. Cops know this—and they take advantage of it.
What if you don’t speak English?
You have the right to an interpreter, but police will delay or deny it. They might claim you “understood enough.” That lie can cost you your freedom.
Your rights under the Canadian Charter (Section 10)
- You must be told why you’re being detained or arrested
- You have the right to speak to a lawyer without delay
But: cops are not required to make sure you understand your rights. They just have to say the words.
Police don’t have to stop questioning you unless you say:
“I want to speak to a lawyer.” That exact phrase. Nothing else will stop them. They are allowed to lie to you. They are trained to pressure and manipulate you. And they know exactly how to do it—especially if you are vulnerable or alone.
If you can’t reach your lawyer
- Ask again
- Ask to call someone else
- Ask for duty counsel (free legal help)
- If the advice doesn’t make sense, say you want to speak to a different lawyer
You don’t have to explain why. Just keep asking.
Staying silent is not guilt—it’s survival
This system is built to punish, not protect. They will act like you’re safe if you “cooperate.” You’re not. Innocent people get convicted every day because they talked.
For marginalized people, this system is even more violent
Police and courts don’t care if you were confused, scared, traumatized, or didn’t understand. They will say you “consented.” They will say you “confessed.” They will say you “understood your rights.” And the courts will believe them.
Real people. Real harm.
Donald Marshall Jr.
A Mi'kmaq man wrongly convicted of murder. Spent 11 years in prison before being acquitted. The inquiry into his case exposed systemic racism in Nova Scotia’s justice system.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/donald-marshall-jr
Ivan Henry
Spent 27 years in prison for sexual assaults he did not commit. His conviction was overturned after DNA evidence linked another man to the crimes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Henry
Roméo Phillion
Convicted of murder after a coerced confession he recanted two hours later. Served 31 years before his conviction was overturned due to evidence the police hid.
https://www.innocencecanada.com/the-latest/exoneration/romeo-phillion/
Glen Assoun
Served 16 years for a murder he did not commit. His conviction was overturned in 2019 after it was revealed that police and RCMP withheld key evidence.
https://www.wrongfulconvictions.ca/cases/glen-assoun
These are just the ones who lived long enough to be exonerated.
This isn’t a broken system. It’s working exactly as designed
Until we abolish police and prisons, we have to protect each other. That means:
- Learn your rights
- Say nothing
- Demand a lawyer
- Share this with people who need it
You don’t have to be an activist to be a target
Innocent people are criminalized every day. The people most likely to be harmed by the cops are the ones least likely to be believed. We protect each other by making sure no one is left in the dark.
This can happen to anyone. Innocent people. People in crisis. People who don’t speak English. People with mental health challenges or cognitive disabilities. Racialized, trans, poor, disabled, or traumatized people. The system is built to punish—not protect—and cops are trained to take advantage of confusion, fear, and vulnerability. You don’t have to be guilty to be targeted. You don’t have to be an activist to be harmed.
Knowing your rights is the only protection you have when they come for you—and even then, it’s not guaranteed. That’s why it’s crucial to understand what your rights actually look like in practice—and why you should never talk to police without a lawyer. They are not there to help. They are trained to make you talk, twist your words, and use anything you say against you. Stay silent. Ask for a lawyer. Every single time.
