For Media Inquiries & Assistance Please Call: 1-800.735.4086

Kirkland resident says he was pulled over in NDG for being Black

  • By Dan Laxer The Suburban, July 10, 2023

June 22nd, SPVM Chief Fady Dagher rejected calls to end random street checks. The very next night, Cyrus Senior, a Kirkland resident, who is Black, was pulled over on his way home from work.
Senior, 27, is a software engineer who works as a DJ on side. Around 2:30 a.m., after DJing a graduation party for a friend’s daughter, thinking “what’s the worst that can happen,” Senior was driving through NDG, doing everything a driver is supposed to – obeying the speed limit, signaling, stopping at red lights and stop signs. And, as he told a news conference last week, he had not been drinking.
The news conference was held by The Red Coalition, the anti-racism and anti-racial profiling organization.
Senior said he noticed the police cruiser, but thought nothing of it. “I knew I wasn’t doing anything wrong.” He was driving his mother’s car, the same car he borrows to get to work everyday.
The traffic light he’d been waiting at, with the police car behind him, turned green. Senior made his turn, and was pulled over.
“I’ve been taught to not question too much. I’ve been taught by my parents to just do what they say, because me getting aggressive will do nothing but harm me.”

The officer explained that the reason he pulled Senior over is because it was “a very unusual time to be driving”. Senior later mused “I didn’t know there was a curfew to driving in Montreal.” Still, he didn’t question it. The officer then said the other reason he pulled Senior over is because the car he was driving is registered to a woman. This was not the first time this had come up.
“Yes,” Senior responded, “My mother. Do you want me to call her?” The officer said no, but then told Senior that the car’s registration was expired. It was not, but Senior had inadvertently given him the wrong copy.
Once the incident was over, Senior began to think of the reality of what had just occurred, the real reason he was pulled over.
Senior’s mother, Gillian, also addressed reporters, saying ““I know I am speaking on behalf of all Black mothers out there.” She said, “It’s the worst feeling in world to know that you have to be nervous every time your 27-year-old son leaves the house after dark.”
Alain Babineau of The Red Coalition highlighted the documented racism within the police force, and how it affects the street checks that they would like to see stopped. “The majority of SPVM officers, Babineau said, quoting an independent report by researchers from several Quebec universities, “see absolutely no need to change anything about their practices.”
“I don’t know what’s needed to be changed,” Senior said. “But I shouldn’t be scared to drive past a police car.”



Disclaimer:
The Press Release section of the Red Coalition Inc. website features logos and content from various media outlets. The content within this section is sourced directly from original press releases and articles. Proper attribution is given to the original authors and media outlets, including their logos, to maintain transparency and respect for their work.
Our intention is solely to provide our audience with access to relevant information and news. We do not claim ownership of the content, nor do we intend to infringe upon the rights or copyrights of the original media outlets. If there are any concerns regarding the use of content, please contact us, and we will address the issue promptly.

Recent

Archive

 2024
 2023
 January
La famille de l’homme demande une enquête sur le racisme systémiqueFamily of Montreal man killed while unlawfully jailed wants systemic racism inquirySystemic racism inquiry called for by family of man who died after being pepper-sprayed at Bordeaux prisonUN GROUPE ANTIRACISTE RÉCLAME UNE ENQUÊTE PUBLIQUE SUR LA MORT DU DÉTENU DE BORDEAUXDétenu mort à la prison de Bordeaux: une coalition exige plus de transparence sur le milieu carcéralLobby group seeks public inquiry, release of video in Montreal man’s jail deathUne coalition réclame la publication de la vidéo de l’interventionCivil rights group calls for inquiry into death of illegally jailed 21-year-old black manAnti-racism group calls for release of video in connection with Montreal jail deathLobby group seeks public inquiry in Montreal man's jail deathRights group seeks public inquiry into death of man in Montreal jailAnti-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 inquest to be held into death of man in Montreal jailPublic inquiry ordered into jail death of illegally detained Montreal manIl y aura une enquête publique du coroner sur la mort de Nicous SpringCoroner orders public inquiry into Montreal man's jail deathChief coroner orders public inquiry into death of 21-year-old illegally detained at Bordeaux jailRed Coalition calling for investigation into systemic racism in Quebec jailsPolice union head tells Montreal's new chief: staffing shortages 1st, community policing 2ndChief Coroner orders public inquiry into death of Nicous SpringPROFILAGE 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
Cas de racisme et de cyberintimidation au Collège Bourget de RigaudGroup says private school near Montreal ignored racism complaintsQuebec sisters afraid to go school, say racism complaints ignoredCalls grow to change streets named after Christopher Columbus on island of MontrealAnti-racism group accuses Montreal-area school of systemic racismUn 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

Categories

no categories

Tags

no tags