Black anti-racism groups lob volleys at Canada and Quebec
The Suburban, Joel Ceausu, Feb 3, 2023
“Enough is enough” says Joel DeBellefeuille, founder and executive director of the Red Coalition, which along with the Black Class Action Secretariat-Francophone Division announced a series of actions during this year’s Black History Month.
“It is unacceptable that in 2023 children continue to suffer in schools what I suffered myself 40 years ago! No child should ever be bullied and excluded because of their race or ethnicity, but unfortunately racism is a daily reality for many Canadian children,” said DeBellefeuille at a press conference this week , where he denounced reports of systemic racism and racist harassment of black youth at Rigaud’s College Bourget, which the Coalition served Friday in a mise en demeure.
DeBellefeuille also told The Suburban that in relation to actions by the Quebec and federal government addressing on-going issues of anti-black racism, “both legislative bodies fell short to heed to the demands of black communities across the country. Each government in their own right is complicit to the issues of systemic racism and they must act now and take the situation seriously."
The Coalition and Secretariat joined forces to file an official complaint at the United Nations to the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, as well as to the Rapporteur on the rights of people of African descent and against racial discrimination, against the Quebec and Canadian governments for failing to fulfill their commitment to combat anti-Black racism, within the framework of the International Decade for People of African descent.
They are also requesting the appointment of a special representative to combat anti-Black racism in Canada and official apologies by both governments to people of African descent for anti-Black racism endured in the province and country.
“It is important to remember that for a long time in Canada several provinces, including Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, had segregated schools. It was not until the passage of the Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977 that these practices began to change and the last segregated school in Canada closed its doors in 1983 in Lincolnville, Nova Scotia- near Halifax.” However says the statement, a 2021 survey Angus Reid survey showed 58% of young Canadians say they have seen children insulted, bullied or excluded because of their race or of their ethnic origin at school. “The study also revealed that all too often teachers are unaware of or unwilling to stop racist behavior.”
Indeed, as example, the Coalition says young Black and Afro-descendant students in schools like Bourget are having their hair pulled, spat on and are called the "N" word by young white students, and further noted the “tone deafness” of the school, offering Black History activities like a series of QR-coded sheets posted on walls leading users to a Wikipedia page.
The groups cite a 2022 Quebec Human Rights Tribunal ruling: “In the current social context, this word inherently carries a strong racist connotation… It is now seen as deeply offensive to people of black color because it is associated with a bygone slavery past, the very memory of which stirs violent emotions. Members of society can no longer ignore that outside of an appropriate context, the use of this word constitutes a substantial and unjustifiable insult.”
DeBellefeuille told The Suburban that the Quebec bill to protect freedom of expression in academic circles has emboldened racist behaviour and tolerance of same. “The Red Coalition and the Secretariat also believe that this relentless insistence to tolerate and even encourage the use of the “N” word in the field of education, amounts to racial harassment towards Canadians of African descent in their daily lives.” Moreover, this seems to be interpreted by some educators, they say, to facilitate the spread and acceptance of its use and contributes to anti-Black racism in the workplace.
“Enough is enough” says Joel DeBellefeuille, founder and executive director of the Red Coalition, which along with the Black Class Action Secretariat-Francophone Division announced a series of actions during this year’s Black History Month.
“It is unacceptable that in 2023 children continue to suffer in schools what I suffered myself 40 years ago! No child should ever be bullied and excluded because of their race or ethnicity, but unfortunately racism is a daily reality for many Canadian children,” said DeBellefeuille at a press conference this week , where he denounced reports of systemic racism and racist harassment of black youth at Rigaud’s College Bourget, which the Coalition served Friday in a mise en demeure.
DeBellefeuille also told The Suburban that in relation to actions by the Quebec and federal government addressing on-going issues of anti-black racism, “both legislative bodies fell short to heed to the demands of black communities across the country. Each government in their own right is complicit to the issues of systemic racism and they must act now and take the situation seriously."
The Coalition and Secretariat joined forces to file an official complaint at the United Nations to the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, as well as to the Rapporteur on the rights of people of African descent and against racial discrimination, against the Quebec and Canadian governments for failing to fulfill their commitment to combat anti-Black racism, within the framework of the International Decade for People of African descent.
They are also requesting the appointment of a special representative to combat anti-Black racism in Canada and official apologies by both governments to people of African descent for anti-Black racism endured in the province and country.
“It is important to remember that for a long time in Canada several provinces, including Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, had segregated schools. It was not until the passage of the Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977 that these practices began to change and the last segregated school in Canada closed its doors in 1983 in Lincolnville, Nova Scotia- near Halifax.” However says the statement, a 2021 survey Angus Reid survey showed 58% of young Canadians say they have seen children insulted, bullied or excluded because of their race or of their ethnic origin at school. “The study also revealed that all too often teachers are unaware of or unwilling to stop racist behavior.”
Indeed, as example, the Coalition says young Black and Afro-descendant students in schools like Bourget are having their hair pulled, spat on and are called the "N" word by young white students, and further noted the “tone deafness” of the school, offering Black History activities like a series of QR-coded sheets posted on walls leading users to a Wikipedia page.
The groups cite a 2022 Quebec Human Rights Tribunal ruling: “In the current social context, this word inherently carries a strong racist connotation… It is now seen as deeply offensive to people of black color because it is associated with a bygone slavery past, the very memory of which stirs violent emotions. Members of society can no longer ignore that outside of an appropriate context, the use of this word constitutes a substantial and unjustifiable insult.”
DeBellefeuille told The Suburban that the Quebec bill to protect freedom of expression in academic circles has emboldened racist behaviour and tolerance of same. “The Red Coalition and the Secretariat also believe that this relentless insistence to tolerate and even encourage the use of the “N” word in the field of education, amounts to racial harassment towards Canadians of African descent in their daily lives.” Moreover, this seems to be interpreted by some educators, they say, to facilitate the spread and acceptance of its use and contributes to anti-Black racism in the workplace.
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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
Anti-racism group accuses Montreal-area school of systemic racismCalls grow to change streets named after Christopher Columbus on island of MontrealQuebec sisters afraid to go school, say racism complaints ignoredGroup says private school near Montreal ignored racism complaintsCas de racisme et de cyberintimidation au Collège Bourget de RigaudUn citoyen souhaite «annuler» Christophe Colomb à Pointe-ClaireRACISME ET CYBERINTIMIDATION: LE COLLÈGE BOURGET MIS EN DEMEUREBlack anti-racism groups lob volleys at Canada and QuebecProminent Quebeckers voice support for Trudeau’s anti-Islamophobia representativeProminent Québecers plead for federal anti-Islamophobia rep to be given a chancePetition against Bill 21 tabled at National AssemblyMontreal police brotherhood says it's too easy to blame its members for racial profilingLongueuil, other Quebec police slow in implementing race-based data frameworkAucune accusation ne sera portée contre les policiers qui ont tué Junior OlivierCalls for police accountability as officers who fatally shot Jean René Olivier face no chargesLack of care on Loyola property "unacceptable":DeBellefeuilleGroups call to cancel puppet show featuring minstrel characterUn spectacle pour enfants sème la controverse dans l’ouest de MontréalUn exemple de « racisme systémique », dénoncent des associationsLocal Montreal play carries on despite upset over controversial puppetFamily of man killed by Repentigny police says lawsuit incomingLa mère de Jean-René Junior Olivier poursuit la Ville de RepentignyLa mère de Jean-René Junior Olivier, abattu par des policiers de Repentigny en août 2021, a déposé une poursuite contre la Ville de RepentignyFamily of Black man killed by Repentigny police files to sue city for $430K in damages
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
Pearson Board denies allegations of systemic racism, assaultAllegations of discrimination and racism at Montreal-area elementary schoolPlea to integrate permanent residents into Quebec police forcesPlaidoyer pour intégrer des résidents permanents au sein des corps policiers québécoisPolicier au Québec: un métier encore fermé aux résidents permanents
July
Red Coalition to SPVM: amend random stops policyLa Coalition rouge presse le SPVM de «réviser» sa Politique d’interpellationRed Coalition demanding Montreal police review street checks policyUn groupe de pression veut recenser l’ethnicité des personnes interpelléesAnti-racism group wants Montreal police to review street check policy'Unusual time to be driving': Anti-racism group calls on Montreal police to modify street checksKirkland resident says he was pulled over in NDG for being BlackLaval police handcuff, illegally search Black military man’s home after street check: Red CoalitionLaval man accuses police of racial profiling, intends to file human rights complaintMilitary aerospace engineer says he was racially profiled by Laval policeCanadian Forces’ member out for run ‘mocked,’ alleges racial profiling by policeMan alleges random police stop in South Shore led to illegal search, fine for contraband cigarettesMontreal man to file human rights complaint over traffic stop by Roussillon police‘Gross incompetence:’ Man ticketed for contraband cigarettes says he was racially profiled
2022
January
February
April
Quebec study exposes dramatic increase in police fundingNew initiative asks Montreal, Ottawa residents to film police interventionsMontrealers to have a say in hiring next police chief'We need to humanize the police': Que. police association aims to improve public image with new campaignVideo shows Montreal police officer pushing homeless man into concrete block; SPVM investigatingSPVM investigation follows video appearing to show abuse by two Montreal police officers
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