June 19, 2017

TO: Executive Committee of City of Toronto and OMBUDSMAN Toronto

Mayor John Tory (Chair)

Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Vice Chair)
Councillor Paul Ainslie
Councillor Ana Bailo
Councillor Jon Burnside
Councillor Gary Crawford
Councillor Frank Di Giorgio
Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon
Councillor Cesar Palacio
Councillor James Pasternak
Councillor Jaye Robinson
Councillor David Shiner
Councillor Michael Thompson
OMBUDSMAN Toronto

RE: EX26.5 The Interim Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism: Anti-Black
Racism is Real

Today Mayor John Tory and the Executive Committee are hearing more about the Interim
Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism report.

The report opens with a letter from Mayor Tory where he acknowledges some important issues:
(1) anti-Black racism exists in Toronto, (2) Black communities are tired of being asked to
recount their own experiences with racism, and the experiences of their ancestors and children
and (3) we know these experiences are real and that it is time for action.

Did you catch that? Mayor Tory said anti-Black racism is real, people are tired of being
consulted on it, and its time to take action.

Then how is it that you, Mayor John Tory, after hearing from Black parents, students and
community agencies about their very real and urgent concerns about the School Resource
Officer (SRO) program, could allow a motion to suspend the program to fail?

If in your own words Mayor Tory, it is time for action, then why did you take none?

If you are telling us that Black communities are tired of consultations, why did you put forward a
motion requiring further consultation? This is not action. This is not listening.
Councillor Shelley Carroll and Councillor Chin Lee also had the opportunity to
suspend the SRO program and interrupt anti-Black racism. And they let the
motion fail too.

Mayor John Tory and Councillor Shelley Carroll have made a big deal about how they care
about Black students, and undocumented students. However, action speaks louder than words.
Their actions show us which side of history they are standing on.

With that stated, we are well aware that 11 councillors sent a joint letter to the attention of the of
the Toronto Police Services Board in support of the School Resource Officer program. In
addition, within an article entitled, West-end Toronto councillors sign petition to back
cops-in-schools program, Councillor Mammoliti slams the argument from the program's critics
that black students become a target for harassment. Mammoliti is directly quoted as stating that
Black community concerns of the SRO program are "hogwash," and that "instead of us listening
to them, we should be ignoring them." Within the article, Mammoliti, frames the debate as city
business being 'hijacked' by a small minority that wants to cause chaos in the city.

Mammolitis statements are misleading the public by misrepresenting the issue at hand.
Opposition to the SRO program has a broad base of community support. In fact, there are over
1,000 signatures in support of a petition titled: Immediately End Torontos School Resource
Officer Program.

Education Not Incarceration (ENI) is one of the leading collectives calling for the removal of the
SRO program. ENI is supported by 18 organizations asking for its removal.

Prof. Carl James recent report on the shameful opportunity and achievement gap faced by
Black students found that the presence of police in schools has a devastating effect on the
learning outcomes for Black children.

Any meaningful commitment to addressing anti-Black racism in Toronto must include a full
removal of the SRO program.

Petition: Immediately End Torontos School Resource Officer Program

https://www.change.org/p/immediately-end-toronto-s-school-resource-officer-program

Sincerely,

Education Not Incarceration (ENI)

Latinx, Afro-Latin-America, Abya Yala Education Network (LAEN)
Educators for Justice and Peace (EPJ)