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Toronto Rejects Apartheid-ish Measures
A dire situation dictates dire actions, not overblown reactions. Toronto City Hall, sadly, seems prone to the latter this month.
Councilor Michael Thompson, Ward 37 Scarborough Centre, told reporters on Monday that he would encourage the city to adopt a program in which police could randomly stop and search black men on the streets. Sort of like a War Measures Act – based on skin colour instead of suspicion of criminal behaviour.
Quickly following the off-the-planet remarks, a backlash was heard from black community leaders, fellow councilors, police officers, residents in Thompson’s ward, and, obviously, us. Luckily for Mr. Thompson and other members of Toronto’s black community, D. Miller and Toronto Police Chief William Blair have ruled out the possibility of implementing this silly idea.
But now that Thompson – who now shares a foot-in-mouth disease with fellow councilor Giorgio Mammoliti – got his time in the media limelight, Torontoist eagerly awaits who’s next. Surely our sworn enemy Denzil Minnan-Wong can top this nonsense. Denzil? You’re overdue for a stupefying comment anytime now.
Or, if you have some proposals, tell Mr. Miller or Mr. McGuinty yourself.