target" young black men at random

kweyol_gal · (#1 (**permalink**))

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...&t=TS_Home

'Target' black youth, councillor urges
Suggestion dismissed by top officer

FROM CANADIAN PRESS

A Toronto city councillor is floating a controversial idea on curbing gun violence in the city.

Michael Thompson says police should be allowed to "target" young black men at random as part of a crackdown on guns.

Thompson, who is black, says a large percentage of the guns being utilized and a large number of people being killed are in the black community, so there's a need to target people in the community.

But Thompson adds that he is not calling for police to pull people over just because they're black, but because gun violence is affecting the black community.

Deputy police chief Keith Forde, who is also black, says chief Bill Blair would "never, ever agree to that."

There have been 30 gun-related deaths in Toronto among the 44 homicides in the city so far this year.

In a new effort to reduce violence in the city, Blair announced yesterday he is reassigning 100 officers to uniform duty.

They will join street patrol officers and provide a bridge until 96 recruits graduate from police college next month.

Blair redeployed 50 officers to a problem area in the northwest section of the city earlier this month.

Here's some of the feedback from Toronto Star readers:

What a regressive proposal! This will mean that a black male like me, married, with a house and a good education and job, can now be hassled by the police for merely being black. How can someone advocate racial profiling, when the charter of rights gurantees no discrimination based on race? This is one councillor who should resign.
Wayne Ward, Pickering, Aug. 16
I absolutely agree. Fact is that most of the gun violence is occuring in black neighbourhoods, and by black males. I admire Michael Thompson for having to courage to speak up for his community. It is time to put political correctness behind us, in the face of deadly violence in our city.
Andrew Pang, Toronto, Aug. 16
Given the already tense situation in the black community with regards to racial profiling, if I were Councillor Thompson I'd think twice about this idea.
Tyler Griffin, Toronto, Aug. 16
This is dragged out from the pile of "Dumb Ideas That Should Never be Used." Gun violence is a serious matter, but to target young black males is not the correct method. We should focus on the group's needs and help them from there.
Ecko Schirokauer, Toronto, Aug. 16

COLTRANE · (#2 (**permalink**))

typical uncle tom working for racist canadian authorities

Kunjufu · (#3 (**permalink**))

Kweyol_gyal

You know what annoys me even more than the idiotic idea that this fool came out with is his total arrogance... Yes he maybe elected.,..but he was elected to represent a broad spectrum of his electrate and not just the Black section of it...

Therefore what right does this man has to ASSume his colour and his position authorises him to speak on behalf of ALL black people as if he had a mandate to do so? We have similar problem here in the Uk where unelected men/women who are goverment appointed...set policy that effects all of us without even consulting or seeking our views.. Its outragous...

CINQUE · (#4 (**permalink**))

Uncle Tom ass House ******, Coonin' MotherF'er. I wonder what his coonin' ass is gonna do when the pigs profile his son.

Another yassa Bossin' ****** House ****** what a damn shame. I'm angry but not surprised,some black folks arestill licking Mr. Charlies ass to get ahead.

Remember just because they're your color doesn't mean they're you're kind.

kweyol_gal · (#5 (**permalink**))

I completely agree with you ppl. When I first heard this I could not believe that it was a black man who was advocating this. In one breath he says target black men at random...as if they don't already do it, butnow they can say well look here's a [self appointed]representative of the Black Community and Toronto City councillor advocating racial profiling. The Toronto Star actually had a special issue on racial profiling about a year and a half ago and that caused all kinds of ruckus. The police were in denial and even tried to have The Star retract their report because it revealedsome of theirnasty racist practices. One of the biggest "jokes" of this whole thing for me isthis part: Thompson adds that he is not calling for police to pull people over just because they're black, but because gun violence is affecting the black community.

What does this man expect will happen?

N.A.T. · (#6 (**permalink**))

Well, I would assume there was only one reason why he got his job right? I mean u guys dont think they r gonna be giving those council seats to field nIggz like Malcolm X?

It shouldnt really be surprising when we see these high class, middle class sell outs carry out and support programs and theories that work in the interests of the Europeans.

CashMoney · (#7 (**permalink**))

Its a dumb idea, totally unworkable

@ kweyol_gal how bad is the gun problem in Canada

Liloba · (#8 (**permalink**))

What should be done to fight gun crime in the Black community then? No one has suggested any solution to the problem.

kweyol_gal · (#9 (**permalink**))

CashMoney wrote:

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Its a dumb idea, totally unworkable

@ kweyol_gal how bad is the gun problem in Canada

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@Cash

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There has been 45 death in Toronto so far...I think about 31 due to gun violence. It has already surpassed last years total murders. Recently the Premiers of the provinces have been talking about the amount of guns entering Canada from the US (mostof the guns heresaycome from the States)and the need to stop them. They said that they are only able to stop about 1 out of 20 cars/trucks entering Canada from the US.

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@Liloba

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It isn't just about the black community though. Some have suggested putting more cops on the street. Before the mayor was acting as though they didn't need more cops, but supposedly he's a little more receptive to the idea. Targetting black men on the street at random to do searches is demeaning and will only feed the fire. That's no solution to stopping the violence on the streets. I remember ...I think it was last year...anyway there was this big take down of this "gang" in the Malvern (Scarborough) area (used to be notorious for that kind of violence)...anyway the majority of the people in the gang were from out of town (the suburbs)and it was one big mix of cultural groups. In fact I saw more "white" looking people in that group on the news that black people. So contrary to that city councillor, black people aren't solely to blame for all the violence in the city.

Liloba · (#10 (**permalink**))

@kweyol_gal

Ok, but how should we address this problemwithin our community? It's to easy to say: "Well, other ethnic groups do it too". What can we do to stop those who bring such violenceinto our communities?

jigaboo · (#11 (**permalink**))

Post cleaned by the Mod squad

N.A.T. · (#12 (**permalink**))

http://www.blackchat.co.uk/theblackf...m32/15369.html