There is a growning concern about Police Brutality in Toronto and Canada on the whole. There is evidence in every sector of our society, that certain elements in the police force take the opportunity to perpetuate violence against accused persons.
Below is a petition brought forward by Osborne Barnwell of OGB Law. Please read, print and fill out. Even if it's just in your office, household or community. Once completed you can send to address: 245 Yorkland Blvd., Ste. 302, North York, ON M2J 4W9, or Fax 416.773.0909 or to scan and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also download the document here: http://tinyurl.com/a5rahqe
END POLICE VIOLENCE NOW - FREEDOM AND JUSTICE NOW
This petition is directed to the Toronto Police Services Board and Toronto Chief of Police, Bill Blair.
WHEREAS, the Ontario Police Services Act requires Toronto Police officers to safeguard the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Ontario Human Rights Code;
WHEREAS, the City of Toronto definition of community safety requires BOTH promotion of social justice AND elimination of violence;
WHEREAS, a core value of the Toronto Police Service requires officers to treat everyone in an equitable, sensitive and ethical manner;
AND WHEREAS, the conduct of certain officers in the Toronto Police service , including :
The arrest of unarmed James Bishop (a Black man) on a basketball court, in front of his son, by several officers - seen on a video that went viral - was unacceptable police violence;
The killing of Michael Ellison, an unarmed mentally ill African Canadian in February 2012 - was unacceptable police violence;
The grossly disproportionate stops of Black and Brown people by Toronto police officers, reported in the Toronto Star, violate their rights and freedoms. These stops are an indefensible abuse of authority and unacceptable police violence;
ALL CONSTITUTE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN DIGNITY, EQUITY & JUSTICE
NOW THERFORE, We, the undersigned, demand that the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Chief of Police state publicly the specific steps they will take to ensure the protection of the rights and freedoms of African Canadian residents . community members and visitors; to ensure that Toronto police officers know that inequitable, insensitive, unlawful behaviour will be reliably and consistently sanctioned; and to ensure that unlawful, unethical, inequitable violence ends now.
END POLICE VIOLENCE NOW - FREEDOM AND JUSTICE NOW
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