Profiling class action against Montreal police a ‘victory for justice’: group
MONTREAL — The head of the Black Coalition of Quebec says a class action lawsuit against the City of Montreal is a chance to address what he calls rampant abuse and profiling of the city’s minorities by the police.
Dan Philip said today that a judge’s approval of the lawsuit is a victory not only for the black community but also for justice in Quebec and Canada.
On Aug. 7, a Quebec Superior Court judge authorized a class action against Montreal on behalf of citizens who allege they were unfairly arrested, detained, and racially profiled by the city’s police between mid-August 2017 and Jan 2019.
In his ruling, Justice Andre Prevost said the class action would address a number of questions, including whether city representatives acted in a discriminatory fashion and violated the rights of the plaintiffs, many of whom allege they were unfairly targeted for arrest or questioning due to their race.