Toronto's Black Community takes action in solidarity with Ferguson protesters

TORONTO, Nov 25, 2014 /CNW/ -Toronto's Black community and its allies are outraged over the St. Louis County Grand Jury's decision not to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting death of an unarmed Black teenager, Mike Brown.

Concerned members of the community will be holding a peaceful rally and protest in Toronto: Today (November 25, 2014) at 6:00 p.m. across the street from the US Consulate (361 University Ave).

"This decision is devastating to the Black community across North America," said Yolen Bollo-Kamara, one of the rally organizers. "We saw a similar situation with Trayvon Martin last year, and this year in Brampton with Jermaine Carby. A Black person is killed every 28 hours by police or gun-wielding vigilantes in the United States. Canada is moving in a similar direction, with the level of racial profiling and carding practices happening here in the GTA. Darren Wilson walking free confirms for Black people that our lives simply do not matter to state decision-makers."

The coalition of community members organizing tomorrow's rally are also releasing a list of demands to the local, municipal, and federal governments here and in Ferguson. They include:

1. The fulfillment of any and all demands made by those protesting police brutality in Ferguson, including but not limited to: The immediate arrest of Darren Wilson, the swift and impartial investigation by the US Department of Justice into the Michael Brown shooting and an expanded investigation into patterns of civil rights violations by police.
2. The immediate release of any and all prisoners detained for direct action in support of Michael Brown's family in seeking justice against Darren Wilson.
3. A Statement from the City of Toronto which supports the protestors in Ferguson
4. Justice for all victims, primarily Black victims, of police brutality/violence in Toronto, in Ontario, and in Canada.

Last year, the Black Action Defense Committee launched a class action lawsuit against the Toronto and Peel Police Services on irrefutable evidence regarding racial profiling practices. This is following a long history of racism by the Toronto Police Services that has resulted in countless deaths, wrongful convictions, and a disproportionately high incarceration rate of Black people.

"We are coming together as a community that is fed up," said Paige Galette, one of the rally organisers.  "Fed up with seeing our families and friends gunned down. Enough is enough. It is time to hold our Police forces accountable to the communities they purport to serve."

The protest was organized by Black Lives Matter Toronto, an informal coalition of concerned Black community members, activists, students, youth, and professionals from all parts of the city.

SOURCE: Black Lives Matter Toronto

Rodney Diverlus, Media Coordinator, 647-456-8476, [email protected]; Paige Galette, French Media Contact, 613-314-4473, [email protected]