Black Lives Matter Toronto to Rally Demanding Justice for Andrew Loku and Jermaine Carby

TORONTO, July 27, 2015 /CNW/ - This afternoon, members of the Black community and their allies will hold a public protest demanding justice for Torontonians who have been victims of police brutality. The rally is called by Black Lives Matter - Toronto, who are specifically calling for justice for Jermaine Carby and Andrew Loku, both of whom are Black men who were slain by police in the Greater Toronto Area. . Concerned members of the community will hold a rally today (Monday July 27th) at 5:00 p.m. at the Eglinton-Gilbert Parkette (504 Gilbert Ave), steps from where Andrew Loku was killed.

"Mayor Tory and Chief Saunders don't seem to understand that the lives of Black people in this city are constantly interrupted by violence from Toronto Police Services, " said LeRoi N., an organizer with Black Lives Matter - Toronto. "Tory and Saunders cannot continue to ignore the experiences of Black people in this city. We want justice for Andrew Loku, for Jermaine Carby and an end to racist police practices."

Sunday marked two weeks since Andrew Loku was killed by police. A Black refugee from South Sudan, Andrew moved to Canada to find safety from civil war, only to be a victim of police violence. As his case is sent to the SIU for investigation, this week the result of another SIU investigation was a disappointment to Toronto's Black community. The officer(s) responsible for Jermaine Carby's death will not be charged for his murder, a Canadian equivalent of the countless "no indictment" decisions south of the border.

"Jermaine Carby was shot seven times (including in the back), and the SIU confirmed that police officers tampered with evidence at the scene, producing the apparent knife that Jermaine had hours after the initial investigations began." said Yusra Ali, an organizer with Black Lives Matter- Toronto. "His family waited over 10 months for the SIU to finish its investigation, only to be told that no charges will be laid against the officers. How are we supposed to trust a process that tells us over and over again that our lives do not even warrant a trial? Andrew Loku's death is an injustice! Jermaine Carby's death is an injustice! We have not seen action. So we will take action."

Black Lives Matter-Toronto are asking for these demands to be met:

1. The immediate release of the name(s) of the officers that Killed Andrew Loku & Jermaine Carby.

2. Charges to be laid against the officers who killed Mr. Loku and Mr. Carby.

3. A confirmation that the police officers who killed Mr. Loku and Mr. Carby are off the streets.

4. The immediate and public release of any video footage from the apartment complex where Andrew Loku was murdered.

5. A date, no longer than four weeks, confirming when the SIU will conclude an initial investigation.

6. Monetary compensation for the family of Andrew Loku and Jermaine Carby.

"The police service is accountable to all Torontonians, including the Black community," said Ali. "Anti-black racism is a global phenomenon, and locally, black people are tired of being targeted. We deserve justice. And we deserve it now"

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

SOURCE Black Lives Matter Toronto

For inquiries, contact Sandy Hudson at [email protected] or 416-722-8842