Hamilton is safe. But is it safe for everyone?
Kojo Damptey on the reappointment of Police Chief Glenn DeCaire
Kojo "Easy" Damptey is a songwriter/music producer living in Hamilton who is interested in using art platforms to tell stories of marginalized peoples and communities.
This came as a surprise and I must say I am disappointed in and offended by the Hamilton Police Service Board.
Their decision has once again confirmed the undeniable fact that institutional racism is rampant in the city and it lives in city hall.
Congratulations to the board for once again excluding marginalized communities.- Kojo Damptey
Following that decision Councilor Ferguson was quoted as saying: "The people of Hamilton should feel a lot safer under his watch."
After all that has happened in the past couple of months regarding carding/street checks and the refusal of the Chief to admit carding/street checks are unconstitutional, the board disregarded citizens of the city and continued with the status quo.
Congratulations to the board for once again excluding the voices of marginalized communities.
Theses are the communities that will be criminalized by the rhetoric of keeping our city safe. Our city will be no doubt be safer, safe for the individuals that are hardly stopped during street checks; safer for the individuals who are profiled less.
Once again marginalized communities will be left at the periphery at the expense of continued stereotypes of racial policing.
To add insult to injury Councilor Ferguson was quoted as saying "he was relieved and gratified that it wasn't a 4-3 vote."
Since it was a unanimous decision he could sleep well at night.
Safe for all?
The Hamilton Community Coalition Against Racism started a petition that generated 194 signatures.
These are signatures of people that are concerned about the safety of numerous citizens coming from marginalized communities.
If, as chair of the Hamilton Police Service Board, Councilor Ferguson is not concerned about the safety of the aforementioned citizens then one can definitely say he is neglecting their humanity at the expense of supporting a chief of police who adheres to racial policing.
Our city leaders have closed their eyes and continue to believe that their irregular acts of tokenism means there is no racism and fail to admit they are part of the problem.
I hope the new Anti-Racism Centre will help address some of these entrenched attitudes of stereotyping, othering and denigrating.
Our city will be safe, but at the expense of marginalized communities.