‘Enough is enough’: Montreal residents protest after police racism allegations

Protesters took to the streets in Montreal North amid allegations that a group of police officers were implicated in racist and discriminatory behaviour.

Protesters took to the streets in Montreal North on Monday evening to say “enough is enough” amid allegations that a group of police officers were implicated in racist and discriminatory behaviour targeting Black and Arab residents.

The demonstration was the first to take place since Montreal police chief Fady Dagher dropped the bombshell allegations in a late-night press conference on Friday and announced two officers have been suspended, while 14 others were reassigned to other duties that don’t involve interactions with the public.

Several media reports say some of 16 officers under investigation at Station 39 allegedly cut the hair off of racialized citizens to keep as “trophies.”

Many of the participants in Monday’s protest say the allegations are abhorrent, but unfortunately, do not come as a surprise.

“It’s sad. It’s something my people have been screaming for years,” said social worker Julian Grau-Brown.

“I’m only 25 years old but this has been going on since my father — even beyond my father. It’s been years … if you’re screaming that something’s happening and everybody’s saying no, this is not happening, how would you feel?”

In a powerful display outside Station 39, protesters got down on one knee and raised a fist in the air as a symbol of resistance to the discrimination they say is all too common in the community. Earlier, some shouted “shame on you” to officers posted at the building.

Two of the 16 police officers part of the probe could face criminal charges, Dagher said Friday. Protesters have echoed calls from other political parties and rights groups that there should be an external, independent investigation.

Melissa Jean-Denis said it’s “complete nonsense” for the Montreal police service to investigate itself and that it only fuels mistrust in the community.

“Any sane person would see that that doesn’t make any sense. Why would the police investigate the police? How are you supposed to feel confident that anything good will result from this?” she said.

“It’s absolutely tiring. It’s the same thing we’re always asking for and nothing changes. And the fact that it’s police officers that denounced other people it’s, like, so now it’s taken seriously. But imagine how many people denounced it, were offended by everything that happened and no one even listened to them. It’s really frustrating.”

So far, Quebec’s domestic security minister, Ian Lafrenière, said Monday that he would appoint an observer to oversee the investigation into the situation. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said she would like to see an independent investigation while the Quebec Liberal Party called for Lafrenière to ask Quebec provincial police to step in and take over.

The allegations that have rocked Station 39 brought up difficult flashbacks for Montreal North residents who were outraged by the killing of 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva by a Montreal constable Jean-Loup Lapointe in 2008, and feel like history is repeating itself.

Looking beyond the investigation, protesters say there needs to be more than just talk for things to improve for racialized communities.

“There needs to be actual reform because we can’t just keep on saying that some people are bad within the police corps,” said one woman who did not want her full name published for safety reasons.

“They need to invest in the communities. We need to have more activities offered to the kids in here, it needs to be in tandem. It can’t just be about the investigation. We also need to invest the dollars in affordable housing, in the schools that we have here, the public school system, the French public schools. At this point I don’t think that that’s done. So I am looking forward to the investigation but also giving back to the communities.”

Hours before the protest got underway, the president of the Montreal Police Brotherhood, Yves Francoeur, issued an open letter to its members. In it, he praised the way his officers do their jobs in what he called “the most complex and intense city in Quebec” and said that is why the allegations of racism affect them so deeply.

“I reiterate loud and clear that the brotherhood condemns all forms of racism, against anyone. The alleged events are a source of shame and frustration, and our thoughts and special attention go out to our approximately 400 members of racialized communities, who are doubly affected by the situation, and to whom I remind: the Fraternity is here for you,” the president wrote.

“Recent events, without prejudging their outcome, motivate us to reaffirm our values. And as Montreal police officers, these values naturally include equal treatment.”

With files from CTV News’ Laurence Brisson Dubreuil