Anti-Black Racism and Policing in Canada: We need new, transformative approaches to upholding public safety

Communities have been speaking out for decades about how Black people experience policing in Canada. It’s time to listen: racism is not up for debate – it’s systemic.

Amnesty International unequivocally supports frontline groups and activists in communities across the country who work courageously and tirelessly to expose that systemic racism and demand justice for the growing number of BIPOC who have been wrongly arrested, mistreated or killed by police across Canada.  

A Comprehensive reform agenda should:

  • ban the practices of carding, street checks, and racial profiling by police,
  • overhaul the approach to wellness checks,
  • refrain from additional funding for law enforcement,
  • consider significant reductions in spending on policing,
  • curtail militarization of police forces,
  • discontinue programs that put police in schools, ban the use of facial recognition technology by police for mass surveillance,
  • address the intersectionality that exists in policing Black women and Black trans individuals,
  • comprehensively overhaul police oversight,
  • and end all other harmful and racist policies and practices.

TAKE ACTION

Add your name to the online petition urging Premiers to support new, transformative approaches to upholding public safety and share on social media.

Your can write a personal letter to your Premier using the online action a guide. Find your Premier’s address here.

WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO

Write to PM Trudeau and Minister Blair about holding police accountable for anti-Black racism and explore anti-racist resources 

TOP READS

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RELATED WORK ON THE USA

On August 7, the New York Police Department (NYPD) brought dozens of officers, a helicopter, riot police, and police dogs in a five-hour-long attempt to arrest Derrick Ingram, a prominent organizer of Black Lives Matter actions. They did not have a warrant. Amnesty is demanding an investigation into the harassment of this human rights defender. Add your voice to Amnesty’s call here.