Racial Profiling Of Black Youth Is Not The Answer To Gun Violence
August 19, 2005
Toronto, August 16, 2005: The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) condemns Toronto City Councillor Michael Thompson's comments that police should target young black men in order to find illegal guns.
“OCASI is deeply concerned about the recent shootings in Toronto. However, I am appalled at Councillor Thompson's irresponsible and foolish suggestion, at a time when members of racialized communities are feeling increasingly under attack from racial profiling practices from police and other security forces. This is going against years of efforts by community, police and various governments to eliminate racial profiling in Canada, and to efforts to address negative stereotyping of young black men” said Debbie Douglas, OCASI Executive Director.
OCASI commends efforts by Mayor David Miller and Police Chief Bill Blair to work together with the affected communities to build positive relations between community and police and to find solutions to the violence.
OCASI recently participated in a Toronto Police Service initiative to raise awareness among recent immigrant communities about the role of police. The Council has consistently supported efforts to work together with police and various levels of government to address concerns of racial profiling by police, security forces and in schools through the Safe Schools Act. Recent immigrants and refugees arriving in Canada are increasingly from racialized communities, and they must have the confidence and assurance that they will not face discrimination in their new communities.
While Councillor Thompson has retracted his comments, OCASI once again urges the Ontario government to take concrete steps to eliminate racial profiling. The Council sees this as an opportune moment to work together with police and governments at all levels to bring about the systemic change that is required to effectively eliminate racial profiling in policing and in the criminal justice system.
"We welcome and support initiatives that are a positive step towards addressing the problem, while respecting the human rights and dignity of Black and other racialized communities. It is efforts such as these that will bring long term solutions to the eliminate the fear and mistrust between vulnerable communities and police, while ensuring that our cities are safe and welcoming spaces for all residents”, said Douglas.
Contact: Debbie Douglas
Tel: 416-32-4950 x 229