Media Advisory - Black Lives Matter - Toronto press conference on response to carding regulations and to denounce recent police violence

TORONTO, March 23, 2016 /CNW/ -  Black Lives Matter - Toronto activists will hold a press conference this morning at 7:30 a.m. to respond to the Province's recent carding regulation announcement. Yesterday the Province announced it has passed its proposed carding regulations, to come into effect January 1st 2017. These new regulations fall short of eliminating carding, nor incorporates the bulk of concerns raised by community, including: the elimination of racial profiling, the deletion of previously collected carding data, and more.

Black Lives Matter - Toronto will also address recent police violence at their protests. On Monday evening, dozens of police officers surrounded and ambushed dozens of peaceful protestors who were participating in a Black Lives Matter action (#BLMTOtentcity). Without warning or order to disperse, the police formed a line around protestors and pushed through, resulting in protesters being punched, shoved, slammed to the ground and physically assaulted in other ways by officers. The crowd was composed of young people, women, children, and some elders.

Activists have been camping outside of Toronto Police Services Headquarters for four days now and will continue to do so in protest of this past week's recent cases of anti-Black racism: the Special Investigation Unit's decision not to indict the officers who killed Andrew Loku, the City's decision to shrink Afrofest, and recent police killing of Alex Wettlaufer.

What: #BLMTOtentcity Press Conference
When: Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Where: Toronto Police Headquarters-40 College Street
Who: Black Lives Matter – Toronto

Black Lives Matter-Toronto have delivered these demands to the Mayor John Tory and Police Chief Mark Saunders:

• The immediate release of the name(s) of the officer(s) who killed Andrew Loku & Jermaine Carby.
• Charges to be laid against the officers who killed Mr. Loku.
• The immediate and public release of any video footage from the apartment complex where Andrew Loku was murdered.
• Apology to the family of Andrew Loku and monetary compensation.
• A review of the Special Investigations Unit, with adequate consultation from families victimized by police violence,
• A reversal to all city-mandated changes imposed on Afrofest, including its restoration to a 2-day festival

About Black Lives Matter - Toronto

Black Lives Matter-Toronto is the Toronto chapter of the #BlackLivesMatter network, an international organization and movement fighting anti-Black racism and state-sanctioned violence.

SOURCE Black Lives Matter - Toronto

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