BSA: Toronto Policing
Do you live, work, play in Toronto? Then this one is for you.
This week, Toronto Mayor John Tory has proposed an increase to the police budget by nearly $50M for this year—while starving out other critical city services.
This comes despite the fact that the Toronto Police themselves released a report this past summer recognizing that they are, indeed, systemically racist.
Not to mention the trove of research and reports which prove that policing disproportionately and unjustly targets systemically neglected communities - especially Black and Indigenous people.
And that's not even including decades of Black, Indigenous and systemically neglected communities telling us about the abuse expirienced by the police.
Welcome back to bite-sized advocacy!
This week, Toronto Mayor John Tory has proposed an increase to the police budget by nearly $50M for this year—while starving out other critical city services.
This comes despite the fact that the Toronto Police themselves released a report this past summer recognizing that they are, indeed, systemically racist.
Not to mention the trove of research and reports which prove that policing disproportionately and unjustly targets systemically neglected communities - especially Black and Indigenous people.
And that's not even including decades of Black, Indigenous and systemically neglected communities telling us about the abuse experienced by the police.
“Investments in people, not policing, will keep us safe
Mayor John Tory is lost. He has tried and failed for nine years to convince us that the Toronto Police will protect us, and seeks to reward them regardless of their harmful impact. Tory is no longer on the police services board, yet today he is announcing an increase to the police budget before the board has met. The proposed increase is about Tory’s loyalty to the cops, not about public safety.
The mayor refuses to even mention the names of those harmed and killed by the police, including Taresh Bobby Ramroop who died in October.”
Tory cannot find enough money to support Torontonians with adequate housing, employment, mental health supports, or child care. The cupboards are bare for everyone except the police, who will only amplify the violence in our city.
No Pride in Policing Coalition condemns the proposed increase to the Toronto Police budget. We reject the notion “community policing”: violence with a smile is still violence and more unnecessary surveillance can never replace real support. Long-term investments in people, not policing, are the only way to address violence.
We call on like-minded people across the city to engage with the upcoming budget process, to say yes to increases for basic community supports, and no to policing.
In this week's Bite-Sized Advocacy' we're asking you to join us in loudly opposing John Tory's increased police budget proposal.
The police board meeting this Monday January 9th is the opportunity to loudly appose this proposal, and submissions to speak/write in are due Friday, January 6th at noon. (seeing this post after Friday January 6th? You can still take action on our website!)
Go to our LinkinBio and click 'Bite Sized Advocacy' (www.oncanadaproject.ca/champion-change)
Use the email template written by @LorissaSengara on Twitter to submit a deputation for review at the board meeting on Jan 9th.
Browse our resources to better understand the need to defund the police.
Ready to go that extra step?
