A coalition of Black community groups has joined calls for an independent public inquiry into racism within Montreal’s police force.
“It still should be part of the first solution to look into the problem,” said Alix Adrien, president of the Quebec Board of Black Educators. “Hopefully this time the commission would have a little more teeth in order to not only make recommendations, but maybe also be able to take concrete actions.”
Members of the Afro Youth Summit issued the call Tuesday following allegations of racist behaviour by members of a police patrol unit in the multicultural neighbourhood of Montreal North.
Police leadership said Friday that they had dismantled the unit, removed 14 officers from patrol duties and suspended two others who are being investigated for potential Criminal Code violations.
The Afro Youth Summit says the inquiry should examine not only the Montreal police but also other police forces that have been the subject of court rulings involving racial profiling.
Montreal’s mayor and the city’s opposition party, as well as the Québec solidaire provincial party have also called for an independent inquiry, while the Quebec Liberals want provincial police to step in.
Related:
“Transparency is not a threat to our institutions; it is essential to their credibility,” said Edouard Staco, president of Afro Youth Summit.
Quebec’s domestic security minister Ian Lafrenière said Monday he would appoint an observer to oversee the internal investigation being carried out by the Montreal police department.
La Presse and Radio-Canada reported that among the allegations are that officers cut the hair of racialized citizens to turn it into “trophies.” Police Chief Fady Dagher has said the reports of haircutting were “part of the allegations.”
Edouard Staco said that Black youth in Quebec continue to be disproportionately targeted by everyday discrimination, according to a study released by the Afro Youth Summit and the Observatory of Black Communities in Quebec in 2025, conducted in collaboration with the polling firm Léger, found that 83 per cent of Black respondents reported having experienced discrimination at least once in their lives.
“Even more concerning is that 66 percent say they have been treated unfairly by a public service—and, as you know, the police are part of that,” he said.
“It can be catastrophic in terms of mental health,” said Adrien when asked about the impact of racism on victims. “When a child is subjected to any sort of violence, be it from a person, but especially from a police officer, it has a lasting impact on them.”
“We want to reassure our young people that when we realize they’re victims of a situation, we stand up and speak out on their behalf—and I think that’s reassuring for them, and it’s even part of our duty,” said Arcelle Appolon, Maison d’Haiti director.
