Black Lives Matter-Toronto attend Coroner's inquest into the killing of Andrew Loku; Officer who shot Andrew Loku identified

TORONTO, June 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Black Lives Matter - Toronto, along with community members are attending the Coroner's inquest into the killing of Andrew Loku by the Toronto Police Services. Today, the community found out the name of the officer who killed Mr. Loku, a central tenet of Black Lives Matter - Toronto's demands from last year's #BLMTOtentcity. Officer Andrew Doyle was identified as the officer who shot Mr. Loku and will take the stand today.

"A year after #BLMTOtentcity, we are finally seeing our demands being actualized." says Hashim Yussuf, an organiser with Black Lives Matter - Toronto. "The officer who shot Andrew Loku was identified, and the video footage publically released. The public has been asking for this information for over two years now. Loku's family and loved ones deserved more transparency, and if it were not for this inquest, this information would have been sealed; families of slain Ontarians shouldn't have to wait for basic information."

Black Lives Matter – Toronto are reiterating their previously released demands calling for more transparency and accountability in cases of police violence:

• The immediate release of the names of officers who shoot and kill civilians, and for charges to be laid accordingly
• The immediate and public release of any video or audio footage that document incidents of police violence.
• An overhaul of the province's Special Investigations Unit, in consultation with families of victims of Police violence, the Black community, and the community at large.

"This process has been extremely re-traumatizing for Andrew's family and his loved ones" says Rodney Diverlus, an organiser with Black Lives Matter – Toronto. "The community lost a father, brother, and friend. This process is stacked against the victims. During the inquest, the police focused on his unkempt hair, or disarrayed apartment; Loku's entire life and character were ripped apart, for what? His family deserves more than this."

The inquest continues throughout this week at Coroner's Court-25 Morton Shulman Ave from 9:30am-5pm.

Black Lives Matter - Toronto will be hosting a press conference in front of the inquest at 1pm today.

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

#AndrewLoku

SOURCE Black Lives Matter - Toronto

For inquiries, contact: Rodney Diverlus at [email protected] or 647-456-8476; Sandy Hudson at [email protected] or 416-722-8842.