Monday, March 14, 2011

OCAP: Toronto Rally Against Police Brutality

Rally Against Police Brutality

Tuesday March 15th — 5PM
51 Division (Front and Parliament St.) Toronto



One week last summer the police turned the whole City into a prison. But in poor neighbourhoods, it’s the G20 everyday. Communities are under attack by the Police because they are poor, homeless, racialized, First Nations and immigrants. We are further abused when we fight back. Our communities are under attack because the police exist to maintain a social order in this country that protects the government, the banks, and the rich while criminalizing the rest.

Despite the trillions of dollars stolen, embezzled and extorted by banks and finance companies that led to this recession, the police are not in the habit of kicking down doors on Bay St. But they are kicking down doors, ticketing, arresting, beating and killing people in poor communities.
March 15th is the International Day Against Police Brutality. A day to bring awareness to the violence, torture, intimidation and harassment by our governments' Police Forces. We, the people, the victims and the survivors will come together to raise our voices to show that we will not stay silent!

The Toronto Star recently revealed that of the 3,400 investigations the Special Investigations Unit has conducted into the Toronto Police in its 20-year history, only 95 have resulted in charges, only 16 of those in convictions, and only 3 of those officers actually went to jail.

Yet we know the police are guilty. Homeless people and people with mental health issues are routinely harassed, beaten and sometimes killed by police in this city. Non-status women seeking a safe haven from abuse are dragged out of shelters by Immigration enforcement officers on tips from two regular sources: the police, and the very abusers these women are attempting to escape. Racialized communities are targeted daily by police.

As part of this internationally observed day, a rally has been organized for Tuesday March 15th. We will be meeting outside of 51 Division at Front & Parliament. OCAP and other community organizations invite everyone to come out and show support for victims of Police violence.
No more Police brutality! No more impunity!

Ontario Coalition Against Poverty ocap@tao.ca 416-025-6939

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