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Black Club Owners Claim Police Harassment
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» hazel replied on Tue Apr 22, 2008 @ 2:10pm |
 Coolness: 48940 | Black club owners claim police harassment
by Stefan Christoff [ hour.ca ] As much as peacefully coexistent multiculturalism is the declared objective in Canada's major city centres, the reality of fractured race relations hasn't evaporated, especially, as some allege, with regards to certain practices of the Montreal police. A court battle surrounding Vision, a black-owned café/night club in LaSalle, is currently taking place with a court decision expected in coming weeks on the future of the club's operating license. Vision is a popular nightspot for a wide spectrum of musical and community events, a performance space for multiple local and international artists, from Caribbean reggae artists to local hip-hop talent. Police relations is a major issue surrounding Vision - in recent months several Caribbean community radio programs, broadcasting at CKUT Radio, have held on-air discussions concerning the issue of racial profiling by the Montreal police at Vision. "Vision is treated differently than other clubs by the police, who approach Vision as if we are all guilty due to our race," says Mark Anthony Bentley, co-director of the venue. "The police have stopped people randomly outside of the club in the parking lot, when walking across the street, issuing countless jaywalking tickets in cases of clear racial harassment." Community workers argue increased government funding for gang prevention programs has resulted in an increasingly radicalized police strategy. "Until now there has never been a violence problem inside Vision; even the police have stated this in court," continues Bentley. "The police openly state that gang members frequent the bar, however in presenting their claims in court the police presented a list, citing less than 1 per cent of our clientèle as having any connection to gang activities. Essentially the police claim that gangs are connected to our club only due to the fact that we are a black-owner business, which makes them uncomfortable." The management at Vision plan to take their complaints to the Quebec Human Rights Commission in upcoming months in an effort to halt what they believe to be racial profiling. |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Mico replied on Tue Apr 22, 2008 @ 5:32pm |
 Coolness: 151385 | Umm, Vision is up the street from my house, and let me tell you, that is THE seediest bar I've ever seen in my life. I've even joked with my friends that we should walk in there and see if come out alive. When I randomly prowl the streets at night around my area, I stay the fuck away from there --and trust me, I've got balls. If Cops are around there at 1am... There's probably a reason.
Then again, there may never be any incidents inside the club and I just may be prejudiced, but believe me it is a scary looking place, and I doubt anyone, after seeing it during the day and definitely at night, would disagree with me. |
| I'm feeling cool right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» basdini replied on Wed Apr 23, 2008 @ 11:08pm |
 Coolness: 146125 | the montreal police, racist?
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... |
| I'm feeling surly right now.. | |
Black Club Owners Claim Police Harassment
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