Race Relations

“Driving while Black”: CDPDJ scores another victory against racial profiling in Repentigny

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2022

MONTRÉAL /CNW Telbec/ – A black man represented by the CDPDJ has just won a case for racial profiling in a police intervention in Repentigny. According to the reported facts, two police officers did a U-turn after spotting the complainant driving his BMW. They followed him for a long distance before intercepting him and asking him if the vehicle belonged to him, asking for his papers and identification. Feeling that he was a victim of discriminatory profiling and having no explanations as to why he was intercepted, the complainant refused to identify himself, which led to his arrest, handcuffing, search and the issuing of a statement of offence.

The victim, Mr. Ducas, filed a complaint with the Commission, which brought the case before the Tribunal des droits de la personne. In its decision, the Tribunal concluded that the complainant had suffered a discriminatory attack on his right to preserve his dignity and that he had been the victim of racial profiling by the police officers of the City of Repentigny. The judge awarded moral damages of $8,000 to the complainant, who remains extremely upset by the events to this day.

“This is an important victory in the fight against racial profiling and the stigmatization of Black communities. Systematically intercepting black people while driving and for no reason is unfortunately a phenomenon that continues to be widespread and must be eradicated. We continue to work closely with all stakeholders to bring about a fundamental change in policing practices,” said Myrlande Pierre, Vice President responsible for the Charter mandate.

Based on the expertise filed by the Commission, the judge in the case believes that the police intervention constitutes differential treatment resulting from unconscious prejudice and bias against a black man driving a luxury car. “The Tribunal is convinced that the policewomen would not have turned back if the person driving the car was white”.

“It is a start, a step in the right direction to recognize racial profiling in Repentigny. My case is not unique and unfortunately there is still a lot of work to be done. Profiling, with its perverse effects, greatly undermines the confidence of racialized communities in the police,” commented Mr. Ducas following the ruling.

The judgment underlines that thanks to “the vigilance and meticulous work done by the Commission over the past few years in this type of case”, the Repentigny Police Service, as well as police services in major cities in Quebec, have become aware of the phenomenon of racial profiling and are now working to modify their practices.

“The Commission welcomes the Tribunal’s recognition of its more than 20 years of expertise in racial profiling. While we welcome the fact that police services are taking action to change certain discriminatory practices, we wish to emphasize the importance that these steps take into consideration human rights and the principles set out in the Charter. We would also like to reiterate the importance of documenting the phenomenon of racial profiling to address it more effectively,” said Philippe-André Tessier, President of the Commission.

In this regard, the Commission is disappointed that the judgment does not follow up on its request to the City of Repentigny to adopt an anti-profiling policy and to collect data on the perceived or presumed racial affiliation of persons who are intercepted. The Commission’s latest recommendation to all Quebec police forces is to document the phenomenon of racial profiling through an independent database.

The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (Human Rights and Youth Commission) ensures the promotion and respect of the principles set out in the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. It also ensures that the interests of children are protected and that their rights recognized in the Youth Protection Act are respected and promoted. In addition, the Commission oversees compliance with the Act respecting Equal Access to Employment in Public Bodies.

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SOURCE Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse

Community

LCDA Releases New Report Detailing Lack of Latino Representation on Illinois Corporate Boards

Published

7 months ago

October 7, 2023

Daily News Staff

WASHINGTON /PRNewswire/ — The Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) announces the release of its groundbreaking report, “Latino Board Monitor: Latino Representation on Illinois Corporate Boards.” This report sheds light on the critical issue of Latino representation in Illinois corporate boardrooms, revealing nearly 80% of Illinois-based public companies lack Latino representation.

Latinos constitute nearly 20% of the US population and wield significant economic influence, while Latinos in Illinois contribute approximately 10% of the Gross Domestic Income (GDI) or nearly $93 billion. It is a business imperative that corporations actively incorporate the Hispanic/Latino perspective within corporate boardrooms and the C-suite.

Latino board seat representation on Illinois-based public company boards stands at only 3.1%.Tweet

However, recent trends in board representation have brought to light a troubling reality. Hispanic/Latino directors continue to be significantly underrepresented in Illinois corporate boardrooms. Although Latinos currently constitute 18% of the Illinois population, their representation on Illinois-based public company boards falls far short of reflecting this demographic holding just 45 of 1,437 available board seats.

Key findings from the report include:

Nearly 80% of Illinois-based public companies lack Latino representation.
Latino board seat representation on Illinois-based public company boards stands at only 3.1%.

With Latinos accounting for $660 billion dollars of unlocked and untapped spend, the Hispanic/Latino perspective is invaluable for gaining insights into the evolving mainstream economy and ensuring that businesses remain competitive and relevant. Yet, despite some progress, Latino representation on Illinois boards still lags behind that of other racial and ethnic groups. Furthermore, Latinos and Latinas face the greatest underrepresentation when it comes to access and visibility to the tremendous amount of Latino board talent, further exacerbating the existing disparity.

LCDA Acting President and CEO, Ozzie Gromada Meza, stated, “The release of LCDA’s ‘Latino Board Monitor: Latino Representation on Illinois Corporate Boards’ report serves as a clarion call for change in Illinois corporate boardrooms. It is time for companies to acknowledge the multicultural business perspectives that Latino directors can provide. By embracing inclusivity as a competitive strategy at the highest levels of decision-making, businesses can thrive in an increasingly dynamic and global economy.”

LCDA serves as a solution, offering access to board-proven and board-ready Latino talent. Visit LCDA’s Member Directory.

For more information on the “Latino Board Monitor: Latino Representation on Illinois Corporate Boards” report and LCDA’s mission, please visit latinocorporatedirectors.org.

About the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA): The Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) brings together accomplished and respected Hispanics/Latinos in corporate leadership and corporate governance committed to paying it forward. Our mission is to develop, support, and increase the number of Hispanics/Latinos on corporate boards. LCDA’s strategy to accelerate Hispanic/Latino placements on corporate boards is focused on three areas: grow demand, grow supply, and raise awareness. LCDA serves as an advocate and resource to corporate boards, search firms, private equity, and institutional investors interested in gaining access to exceptional Hispanic/Latino board talent. Together with our foundation (LCDEF), our program areas also focus on growing the supply of high-caliber boardroom candidates and providing quality corporate governance programming for experienced and aspiring directors.

SOURCE LATINO CORPORATE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

Community

United States Commission on Civil Rights Releases Report: The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States

Based on extensive research, expert and public testimony, the report assesses the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. from 2019 through 2021

Published

7 months ago

October 2, 2023

Daily News Staff

WASHINGTON /PRNewswire/ — Today, the United States Commission on Civil Rights releases the report, The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States. Based on extensive research, expert and public testimony, the report assesses the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. from 2019 through 2021, and the federal role in preventing and enforcing federal hate crime laws.

This report examines three main areas: 1) national trends and data regarding the rise of hate incidents and hate crimes against members of Asian communities; 2) local and state law enforcement’s prevention and reporting practices regarding hate crimes; and 3) federal efforts and policies that encourage greater participation in reporting hate crime incidents, as well as prosecution and enforcement efforts to prevent hate crimes.

“The report indicates that language barriers are impeding the reporting of incidents and that many incidents that do not meet the legal criteria for hate crimes, such as racial slurs or being spat on, still evoke fear but go unaccounted for in official statistics,” said Commission Chair, Rochelle Mercedes Garza. “Ultimately, the absence of adequate performance metrics poses a significant challenge in assessing the federal government’s effectiveness in combating the surge in hate crimes against the Asian community. While these barriers continue to exist, the Commission has outlined a holistic strategy to combat anti-Asian hate incidents, ranging from data collection improvements and legal enforcement to community support and education initiatives.”

“I am proud to have worked on the United States of America’s official, congressionally authorized, report on what’s been happening to our community since the dubbing of COVID-19 as the ‘China Virus’ inflicting people with the ‘Kung Flu’. Words matter, as this report shows,” said Commissioner Glenn Magpantay.

Agreed upon by a bi-partisan majority of Commissioners, the report contains the following Commission specific findings and recommendations – a first since 2019:

Findings

Data collection & reporting:

A major impediment to understanding the severity and magnitude of hate crimes against persons of Asian descent is the lack of comprehensive data.
The transition to the NIBRS data collection has been slow for some agencies: for 2021, the number of participating agencies within the FBI hate crime database was 11,834, compared to the 15,138 participating agencies for 2020 data, and many of the agencies that have not submitted 2021 data are the largest jurisdictions.

Recommendations

Training & Partnerships:

Prosecutors and law enforcement should vigorously investigate and prosecute hate crimes and harassment against Asian Americans.
First responders should be provided with training aimed at teaching a clear understanding of what constitutes a hate crime in their jurisdiction.

Language access:

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and victim services need to identify critical deficiencies in Limited English Proficient (LEP) programs for individuals who need language assistance.

As part of the examination, the Commission held a public briefing on March 24, 2023, where Commissioners and Commission staff heard from subject matter experts such as government officials, academics, policy experts, law enforcement professionals, advocates, and impacted persons. The Commission also accepted written materials from the public for consideration in the final report.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is the only independent, bipartisan agency charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights and reporting annually on federal civil rights enforcement. Our 56 state and territory Advisory Committees offer a broad perspective on civil rights concerns at state and local levels. For more information about the Commission, please visit www.usccr.gov and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact: Angelia Rorison
publicaffairs@usccr.gov

SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Community

Statement by Minister Khera for International Day for People of African Descent

The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, issues a statement marking the International Day for People of African Descent.

Published

8 months ago

September 6, 2023

Daily News Staff

OTTAWA, ON /CNW/ – On the International Day for People of African Descent, we celebrate and recognize the exceptional contributions of people of African descent, both in Canada and around the world. This day is also an opportunity for us to renew our determination to promote equality and inclusion as well as fighting discrimination in all its forms.

People of African descent have helped shape our country’s history and identity. African Canadians have played an important role in the development of our society for generations, making contributions in all fields including science, politics, art and literature. The vibrant cultures and accomplishments of African Canadians continue to enrich our communities from coast to coast to coast to this day.

This day is also a time to reflect and recognize the unique challenges people of African descent face. Despite the progress made, much remains to be done to fight the systemic discrimination and racism that persist in our society. As Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, I’m committed to fighting these inequalities, promoting fair policies that remove barriers and promoting equal opportunities for everyone.

In fact, the Government of Canada has launched several initiatives in this direction, including the Black Entrepreneurship Program, the Black Canadian Communities Initiative, as well as the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund. All of these initiatives share the common goal of helping, supporting and investing in Black communities across the country.

On this International Day for People of African Descent, my colleagues and I renew our commitment to the elimination of all forms of discrimination. Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice. Together they represent our country’s greatest strength. Let’s continue to build a fairer, more equitable and inclusive Canada for all.

I wish you an excellent International Day for People of African Descent!

SOURCE Canadian Heritage