Protesters say they're already being turned away at the border and interrogated for hours even before the onslaught of them expected for the G-8 arrive next week.
Erik Ohlsen arrived with a friend last week at Calgary International Airport from San Francisco and said customs officers spent hours questioning them both.
"We were held for four hours, we were interrogated separately, and not told why," said Ohlsen, who teaches people how to grow food and remediate waste and water.
"We're concerned for other friends and allies coming through who might be met with the same problem at the border."
Another friend was turned away at the border for having "political material" -- a shirt that read "democracy and justice."
"It's kind of ironic we're coming within our democratic right to dissent and then being turned away for promoting those ideas," said Ohlsen.
'FOCUS ON TRAINERS'
Sarah Dover, a volunteer with the G-8 legal support collective, said this week's arrivals are primarily trainers -- people with experience travelling and knowledge of the legal supports available to them.
Dover said there are also concerns immigration officials may be "profiling" people.
"For (the Summit of the Americas) in Quebec they were looking for people 'poorly-dressed but well-informed,'" said Dover, noting with his long hair Ohlsen fits the stereotypical bill.
"They hardly come less menacing."
But the Calgary director for Citizenship and Immigration Canada said people aren't being turned away for anything in their luggage or their look -- just if they don't meet entry requirements.
"There's no special inadmission category for people coming up for the G-8," said Rob Ferguson.
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