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1. Regis Korchinski-Paquet should be with us today. Her family says the police pushed her off her 24th floor balcony & she fell to her death. Black Ontarians have been here before. The family's account can't be ignored. That's the 1st step towards justice. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/05/27/siu-investigate-death-of-woman-29-in-high-park-neighbourhood/
2. I can't imagine the anguish Ms. Korchinski-Paquet’s family is feeling today. But in Regis' memory, we can stand behind her family and friends. These systems must be changed. And we must do better by facing anti-Black racism head on in every system that Black folks encounter.
3. The ONDP Black Caucus, along w/ our Official Opposition colleagues will watch the SIU investigation closely. But we can't ignore that Doug Ford took what little teeth existed out of this process & that SIU investigations rarely bring justice & closure to Black families.
4. Let's be clear: Regis Korchinski-Paquet's death is not an isolated incident, but part of a pattern of Black deaths that includes D’Andre Campbell & countless others. It's part of a pattern of disproportionate surveillance in our communities.
5. Black Ontarians are targets of violence even when we call for help. People assume we don't need help or feel pain. That we shouldn't be believed. There are mountains of data & reports that demonstrate this, including this from @OntHumanRights:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-interim-report-toronto-police-service-inquiry-shows-disturbing-results
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-interim-report-toronto-police-service-inquiry-shows-disturbing-results
6. At a bare minimum, Black Ontarians should be able to interact w/ police or call for help without fear. @OntHumanRights called for all police services to fight racial profiling in real ways. The Ford government won't make this work mandatory.
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-eliminating-racial-profiling-law-enforcement
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-eliminating-racial-profiling-law-enforcement
7. Justice for Regis Korchinski-Paquet's family can include legislating anti-racism work in police services today. It can look like a full, public independent process for investigating her death.
It must look like systems change.
It must look like systems change.
8. There will be no justice until Black Ontarians know they are valued & safe. Until we meaningfully address & dismantle systemic anti-Black racism in our institutions. This includes in policing.
It is possible. What we need is a government with the political will to act.
It is possible. What we need is a government with the political will to act.
