Police officer On Trial

POLICE OFFICERS ON TRIAL FOR VIOLENT ASSAULT ON DEAF YOUTH OF COLOUR

Toronto - Two Toronto police officers are on trial for violently assaulting Peter Owusu-Ansah, a 25-year-old black youth who is deaf. Officers Moosvi and Taylor were charged after Peter reported that on September 13, 2002, after playing basketball at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, he was stopped by police. Peter reported that he was taken behind Northern Secondary School, handcuffed, and beaten. The trial began in January, 2004.

Closing arguments by Crown and Defense have now been held over until September 1, 2004. A Coalition of Community Groups focused on race, disability, and deaf issues will bring their membership to the trial to support Peter and raise awareness of the police discrimination against people of colour and people with disabilities. Public interest in these issues is continuing to increase as Peter's story becomes more widely-known.

Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2004

Time: 10:00 am

Location: Scarborough Courts, Court Room 405

1911 Eglinton Ave. East

In the two years prior to the assault, Peter was stopped no less than 17 times by police for questioning or inspection of his identification. Peter has learned that he is not safe on the street. As a person of colour, he is targetted by police. As a deaf person, he faces enormous barriers in interacting with police who have little or no training regarding people with disabilities. His experiences are traumatizing as the police treat his disability as evidence of non-compliance or resistance to their demands. Being deaf increases his vulnerability and appears to increase the violence which he suffers at the hands of police

The Coalition in support of Peter Owusu-Ansah includes: African Canadian Disability Community Association, African Canadian Legal Clinic, ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, Canadian Association of the Deaf, Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, Canadian Hearing Society, Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Ethno-Racial People with Disabilities Coalition of Ontario, Huronia Hearing Impaired, Ontario Association of the Deaf, Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Urban Alliance on Race Relations, and Silent Voice Canada.

In addition to bringing its membership to the trial, the Coalition will address the intersection between race and disability in police harassment and abuse. The Coalition will be demanding:

1- Commitment from the police and all levels of government to eradicate racial profiling, and ensure that policing in Ontario is free of racism and

2- Commitment from the police and all levels of government to ensure that policing in Ontario is free of ableism, and audism and that the police will respond appropriately to the needs of those with disabilities, including those of the deaf, deafened and hard of hearing community.

"When I first came to Canada, I was told it was a country where people could be free, but I don't feel like I can be free. I feel like I am a second class citizen."

Peter Owusu-Ansah

"The social and historical experience of African Canadians is beset with marginalization and oppression. The continued practice of racial profiling serves to reinforce this history and magnify the impact of discrimination faced by African Canadians. This stark reality is heightened and compounds the discrimination experienced by African Canadians with disabilities, as is the case with Peter Owusu-Ansah. The African Canadian community is tired of the disparate treatment we receive at the hands of the police and we demand an end to racial profiling."

Margaret Parsons, Executive Director, African Canadian Legal Clinic

"Disability is not a crime. Persons with disabilities expect the police to respect the diversity of this city and the diverse abilities of the people living in it."

Phyllis Gordon, Executive Director of ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities

"Peter Owusu-Ansah is a symbol of courage and bravery for reporting this incident of police brutality. It is not the first time deaf people have experienced similar police harassment and unacceptable practices. Police enforcement officials should be mandated to undergo awareness training in anti-racism, anti-ableism, anti-audism and anti-discrimination."

Gary Malkowski, Vice-President, Consumer, Government & Corporate Relations with The Canadian Hearing Society

"We have to admire the tremendous courage that Peter had shown, and is showing, in staying with this case. How can anyone say that there's no racial profiling when one person can be stopped over 17 times over a two-year period? One has to wonder whether his disability and his racial background put him in double jeopardy for repeat stops."

Dr. Karen Mock, Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation

"Ethno racial people with disabilities face multiple forms of discrimination occurring simultaneously due to their race, culture and disability. This must stop. The police are there to serve and protect. To eradicate the oppressions, we must challenge the systems that maintain them. We need to promote awareness and education of ethno racial people with disabilities within the Police Services."

Rafia Haniff-Cleofas, Ethno Racial people with Disabilities Coalition of Ontario (ERCDO)

"It seems no minority segment is spared of police brutality. What Peter experienced is but one of the countless examples of such treatment. This has to be stopped."

Jennifer Jackson, lawyer and Executive Director of the Ontario Association of the Deaf and Spokesperson of the Ontario Deaf Community Coalition

"This case is an example of the entrenched violence of the police culture in Toronto which is deployed against people of colour and people with disabilities. This is not just a question of a need for training. The police force as a whole needs to acknowledge the severity and complexity of the problem. The police need then to acknowledge that the problems cannot be resolved internally. Assistance from the communities affected is needed to effectively ensure that all persons regardless of race or ability are treated with dignity and respect."

Elisabeth Br?ckmann, Staff Lawyer, Parkdale Community Legal Services

"Peter Owusu-Ansah is doubly vulnerable in the Toronto of 2004; not only is he black but he is deaf. Unfortunately, he has encountered police officers who have not acted with the trust their role requires. The police appear not to have recognized Peter's right to fair, respectful treatment. The actions of which these officers are accused are shameful; the police must focus on providing service to all people."

Zanana Akande, President, Urban Alliance on Race Relations

CONTACT: Shannon Slattery, Parkdale Community Legal Services

(416) 531-2411 ext. 251

or Ron Franklin, Parkdale Community Legal Services

(416) 531-2411 ext. 252