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 hearing impaired. 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 will be made by Crown and Defense on July 20, 2004. A Coalition of Community Groups focused on issues of race and disability will be bringing their membership to the trial to support Peter and raise awareness of the police discrimination against people of colour and people with disabilities.

Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Old City Hall
Court Support Office at - Room 156 (on the first floor)

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 targeted by police. As a person with a hearing impairment, he faces enormous barriers in interacting with police who have little or no training in interacting with people with disabilities. His experiences are traumatizing as the police treat his disability as evidence of non-compliance or resistance to their demands. His hearing impairment increases his vulnerability and appears to increase the violence which he suffers at the hands of police

The Coalition to support Peter Owusu-Ansah currently includes: African Canadian Legal Clinic, ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Canadian Hearing Society, Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Ethno-Racial People with Disabilities Coalition of Ontario, and Parkdale Community Legal Services.

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 that the police will respond appropriately to the needs of those with disabilities, including hearing impairments.

CONTACT: Shannon Slattery, Parkdale Community Legal Services (416) 531-2411 ext. 251