Civil rights group calls for inquiry into death of illegally jailed 21-year-old black man
By Sam Maislin The Suburban, Jan 7, 2023
The civil rights group Red Coalition has called for an investigation into systemic racism following the death of illegally held 21-year-old black man Nicous D’André Spring at Bordeaux jail. Speaking at a press conference last Saturday, Red Coalition director of racial profiling and public safety Alain Babineau requested that video evidence of the altercation between Spring and prison guards be made public in addition to a public inquiry being called. “The family has very little information,” said Babineau, “no matter where it comes from, to know [what really happened], but it’s reasonable to think that there is video, and we ask that it be made public. There are versions of the people on the scene, but the family does not believe it, the community does not believe it, and what better than a video to help understand what happened, such as during police and guard interventions.” Babineau, a former RCMP officer, added that the family and loved ones of Spring have lost confidence in Quebec institutions,saying, “when a community loses confidence in its government institutions, communities no longer believe in the relationships that come out of government institutions, so it’s normal to ask that independent entities can look into things.”
Director and founder of the Red Coalition Joel DeBellefeuille released a statement stating, “We believe what happened to Nicous is the tip of the iceberg within the Quebec jail system. The government needs to get behind the walls and launch a system-wide investigation to find out what’s going on in there. The community must also be involved in the process.” The Red Coalition previously confirmed that Spring was receiving support to take care of his mental health at the time of his passing. His sister Sarafina Dennie said, “correction officers are supposed to be trained to deal with inmates with special needs, but they treated him like a rabid animal!”
Nicous D’Andre Spring died following an altercation with guards who placed a spit guard on him and proceeded to pepper spray him multiple times. Spring was scheduled to be released from Bordeaux prison on Dec. 23 but was kept incarcerated on Dec. 24 when the incident took place. A correctional officer and manager have since been suspended. Currently, an investigation is underway by the Sûreté du Québec as well as the Ministry of Public Security.
The civil rights group Red Coalition has called for an investigation into systemic racism following the death of illegally held 21-year-old black man Nicous D’André Spring at Bordeaux jail. Speaking at a press conference last Saturday, Red Coalition director of racial profiling and public safety Alain Babineau requested that video evidence of the altercation between Spring and prison guards be made public in addition to a public inquiry being called. “The family has very little information,” said Babineau, “no matter where it comes from, to know [what really happened], but it’s reasonable to think that there is video, and we ask that it be made public. There are versions of the people on the scene, but the family does not believe it, the community does not believe it, and what better than a video to help understand what happened, such as during police and guard interventions.” Babineau, a former RCMP officer, added that the family and loved ones of Spring have lost confidence in Quebec institutions,saying, “when a community loses confidence in its government institutions, communities no longer believe in the relationships that come out of government institutions, so it’s normal to ask that independent entities can look into things.”
Director and founder of the Red Coalition Joel DeBellefeuille released a statement stating, “We believe what happened to Nicous is the tip of the iceberg within the Quebec jail system. The government needs to get behind the walls and launch a system-wide investigation to find out what’s going on in there. The community must also be involved in the process.” The Red Coalition previously confirmed that Spring was receiving support to take care of his mental health at the time of his passing. His sister Sarafina Dennie said, “correction officers are supposed to be trained to deal with inmates with special needs, but they treated him like a rabid animal!”
Nicous D’Andre Spring died following an altercation with guards who placed a spit guard on him and proceeded to pepper spray him multiple times. Spring was scheduled to be released from Bordeaux prison on Dec. 23 but was kept incarcerated on Dec. 24 when the incident took place. A correctional officer and manager have since been suspended. Currently, an investigation is underway by the Sûreté du Québec as well as the Ministry of Public Security.
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Archive
2023
January
Family of Montreal man killed while unlawfully jailed wants systemic racism inquiryLa famille de l’homme demande une enquête sur le racisme systémiqueSystemic racism inquiry called for by family of man who died after being pepper-sprayed at Bordeaux prisonDétenu mort à la prison de Bordeaux: une coalition exige plus de transparence sur le milieu carcéralUN GROUPE ANTIRACISTE RÉCLAME UNE ENQUÊTE PUBLIQUE SUR LA MORT DU DÉTENU DE BORDEAUXRights group seeks public inquiry into death of man in Montreal jailLobby group seeks public inquiry in Montreal man's jail deathAnti-racism group calls for release of video in connection with Montreal jail deathCivil rights group calls for inquiry into death of illegally jailed 21-year-old black manUne coalition réclame la publication de la vidéo de l’interventionLobby group seeks public inquiry, release of video in Montreal man’s jail deathAnti-racism group claims Quebec told Longueuil police to ignore court order on racial profilingAllison Hanes: Montreal prison death demands urgent answersRed Coalition: Quebec ministry told Longueuil police force to defy court order on racial profilingQuebec told Longueuil police to disregard court order on racial profiling, says anti-racism groupCivil rights group accuses Quebec of covering up race-based police dataQue s’est-il passé à Bordeaux ?Public inquiry ordered into jail death of illegally detained Montreal manPublic inquest to be held into death of man in Montreal jailChief coroner orders public inquiry into death of 21-year-old illegally detained at Bordeaux jailCoroner orders public inquiry into Montreal man's jail deathIl y aura une enquête publique du coroner sur la mort de Nicous SpringRed Coalition calling for investigation into systemic racism in Quebec jailsChief Coroner orders public inquiry into death of Nicous SpringPolice union head tells Montreal's new chief: staffing shortages 1st, community policing 2ndPROFILAGE RACIAL: UNE PLAINTE OFFICIELLE DÉPOSÉE CONTRE LA VILLE DE LONGUEUILCoalition alleges contempt of court against LongueuilPROFILAGE RACIAL: «LA CAQ DOIT TENIR SES PROMESSES», ESTIME LA COALITION ROUGEGroups to kick off Black History Month with measures to fight racism
February
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March
Red Coalition alleges SPVM withholding findings on racial profilingAnti-racism group says Montreal police withheld findings of racial profiling reportUN GROUPE ANTIRACISTE AFFIRME QUE LE SPVM A RETENU LES CONCLUSIONS D'UN RAPPORT SUR LE PROFILAGE RACIALThis boarded-up building lays bare Montreal's crumbling social housing systemCity of Longueuil facing contempt charges related to police racial profilingLE PROFILAGE RACIAL EXERCÉ PAR LA POLICE DANS LA MIRE DU MINISTRE BONNARDELQuebec Bill on police practices facing criticismEthics complaint filed against Montreal executive committee chairperson"Smokescreen; a dog and pony show"City of Longueuil, Que. gets postponement of contempt of court charges
May
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July
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2022
January
February
April
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