The Pivot Legal Society and the BC Civil Liberties Association say they含羞草研究社檝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 含羞草研究社渧iolent dispersal含羞草研究社� of protesters who demonstrated at a Vancouver rail crossing in May.

In a statement, the groups say the two 含羞草研究社渟ervice and policy含羞草研究社� complaints to the Vancouver Police Board involve police actions against 含羞草研究社減ro-Palestine demonstrators,含羞草研究社� where they were allegedly met with 含羞草研究社渆xtensive forms of policing violence含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社減unisher含羞草研究社� skull.

The groups say the police force has 含羞草研究社渁llowed anti-Palestinian racism to persist within its ranks,含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社渟ystemic rights violations含羞草研究社� against people demonstrating for Palestinian human rights due to police bias and 含羞草研究社渦ndemocratic practices.含羞草研究社�

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