Racial profiling remains a problem in the York community and in the GTA.
The York Federation of Students passed a racial profiling and black lives matter motion to address carding and racial profiling which, “heavily impact marginalized and racialized communities, and on a more frequent basis than non-racialized areas.”
Knia Singh, an Osgoode law student and the president of Osgoode Society Against Institutional Injustice, held a seminar addressing racial profiling and police carding issues last Monday. Singh points out that carding is not the same as police “street check,” and it’s a problem when police try to provide a fallacy between the two.
Police carding is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom because it is disproportioned and targeted to a specific group of people, says Singh.
“The problem with carding is not only that it violates fundamental freedom,” says Singh, “but it also makes people feel like they are second-class citizens and uncomfortable.”
Accordingly, people should know the Charter.
When asked about racial profiling at York, Singh says, “There has been racism at York. Fortunately, I think it’s getting better.”
Singh advises students, if they are being stopped by security, to politely ask the security to justify whatever reason they felt they needed to approach them.
The YFS claims profiling specifically affects black and brown youth, and “the police are using the guise of ‘community engagement’ to move forward with the notion of racial profiling and carding.”
A $200,000 study on Toronto Police Services shows police are in need of urgent reform. The report aimed to radically transform Toronto policing, but critics say its contents were buried by the board.
Earlier this month, chiefs and officers attempted to fight proposed restrictions on street checks, “including measures to tell people in non-criminal situations they don’t have to comply.”
James Zhan, Staff Writer
With files from Ryan Moore.
Featured image courtesy of The Free Thought Project.
