Desmond Cole is a journalist, author, radio host, activist and regular Ontario citizen.
Born in Red Deer, Alberta and raised in Oshawa, Ontario, Desmond was a ‘good’ kid; he was active in sports, fundraised for charity and even graduated as high school valedictorian. Raised by parents who worked as nurses in mental health and in elder care, he was taught to work hard, respect authority and preserve the family’s good name.
Despite all of this, Desmond is regularly questioned by police. The son of immigrants from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Desmond is black.
"I have been stopped, if not always carded, at least 50 times by the police in Toronto, Kingston and across southern Ontario” he describes in his 2015 Toronto Life article “The Skin I’m In”.
“By now, I expect it could happen in any neighbourhood, day or night, whether I am alone or with friends. These interactions don’t scare me anymore. They make me angry. Because of that unwanted scrutiny, that discriminatory surveillance, I’m a prisoner in my own city.”
A talented and prolific writer, Desmond has spoken out in the media about police carding and street checks, writing for publications such as the Toronto Star, Torontoist, Now Magazine and Toronto Life. He frequently addresses the issue on his NewsTalk1010 show, on Twitter and is now writing a book about Canada's connection to Black Lives Matter, set to be published next year.
The Ontario Bar Association is honoured to have Desmond Cole join our February 3, 2016 program, Constitutional and Human Rights of Young People: Policing and Public Space, where several leading lawyers in the area of youth and human rights law will gather to discuss this issue and more as part of the OBA’s 41st Annual Institute. Desmond will deliver a keynote speech about this issue, relaying his own personal experiences and the impact these practices have had on his life.
Following Desmond’s keynote, listen to our expert legal panel as they explore key questions such as:
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What rights do young people have to access and enjoy public space undisturbed?
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How are these legal rights actually experienced on a day-to-day basis?
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Which youth are most affected by policing practices?
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How can lawyers help with making young people’s rights real?
It's illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk,” he informed me. “I know, officer, that’s why I’m walking it,” I replied edgily. Then the cop asked me for ID. After sitting in front of the computer inside his car for a few minutes, the officer returned nonchalantly and said, “Okay, you’re all set.” I wanted to tell him off, but thought better of it and went home. I still don’t know what he saw when he ran my name.”
On August 31, 2015, the Ontario Bar Association submitted comment to the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services on the regulation of police powers relating to the practices of carding and street checks. View it here.
Register to attend the Constitutional and Human Rights of Young People: Policing and Public Space in person or online.
Quotes in this article are from The Skin I’m In: I’ve been interrogated by police more than 50 times – because I’m black, by Desmond Cole, published by Toronto Life, April 2015.