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Toronto, Mayor John Tory says that a symposium he is holding with leaders from the black community on Saturday could lead to a more public meeting somewhere down the line.
Members of the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter have repeatedly asked Tory to hold a public meeting to talk about the issue of police discrimination, however so far Tory has only offered to meet behind closed doors, something the group has refused.
The mayor, however, told reporters on Wednesday that he sees a weekend meeting with leaders from the black community as a precursor to a public meeting that organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement would be invited to.
Last month, Black Lives Matter protesters staged a 15-day sit in outside Toronto Police headquarters following a decision by the Special Investigations Unit not to charge the officers involved in the shooting of Andrew Loku. A coroner’s inquest has since been called in connection with Loku’s death.
“Part of the advice I want to seek from this group on Saturday is how do we go forward to some kind of a public setting that can be constructive, rational and inclusive, and I specifically reference Black Lives Matter and say this could be an event that could include them,” Tory said. “I will be very candid about this, though. I don’t believe this is an appropriate issue in which to suggest that there is one group, that group or any other, that should be a the sole spokesperson for what is a very complicated and very challenging issue.”
Tory has previously said that Police Chief Mark Saunders will be part of his meeting with leaders from the black community; however he has refused to identify other participants.
On Wednesday, he said that he wants the majority of participants to be young people as it is his belief that some of the city’s younger residents are expressing the most frustration with the current environment.
“It is about beginning the substantive discussion on issues related to discrimination and disrespect but also lack of opportunity. I think there is a suite of issues to be dealt with here,” Tory said.
