Black Lives Matter confronts police board; Demands an end to cops in schools

TORONTO, June 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Black Lives Matter – Toronto is attending the Toronto Police Services Board meeting today at 1:00 p.m. demanding an end to the controversial School Resource Officer (SRO) program. The program places police officers in schools where there are a high population of Black students. A motion to end the program was served at the last Toronto Police Services Board meeting. The meeting follows a demonstration held by Black Lives Matter – Toronto last month, where teachers and students discussed experiences of harassment, brutalization and discrimination faced by Black children who attend schools where police officers roam the halls. The motion was stalled when Mayor John Tory called for a review of the program prior to making a decision to end it.

"Why do our kids have to continue to suffer while waiting for another useless review?" said Silvia Argentina Aruz, a parent and community organizer. "Children should not have to fear being handcuffed or confronted with an armed police officer while at a place of learning!"

When Black Lives Matter – Toronto requested a list of each school in Toronto which runs the School Resource Officer program from the Toronto District School Board, they were initially told that a list did not exist. Black Lives Matter subsequently received a list of high schools that run the SRO program from an anonymous source.

"This list of which schools have cops proves what we have known all along: they are targeting areas with a high concentration of Black children," said Leroi Newbold, a teacher and an organizer with Black Lives Matter – Toronto. "When I think of all the services that could be offered to truly keep our kids safe if we weren't wasting money on this harmful Black child intimidation exercise – it just breaks my heart."

Black Lives Matter-Toronto is the Toronto chapter of #BlackLivesMatter, an international organization and movement fighting anti-Black racism all over the world.

SOURCE Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario

Rodney Diverlus: 647-456-8476 | [email protected]; Sandy Hudson: 416-722-8842 | [email protected]