Recently, members of the Somali community, supported by OCAP, took up a campaign on behalf of a young man nameed Jama Jama. On August 4 of last year, he was injured while being arrested without proper cause by Toronto cops. They alleged that he assaulted them but a video taken at the time of the incident told a different story. Accordingly, amid mounting community indignation, charges against Jama were ignominiously withdrawn by the Crown.

Now one of the cops involved in the matter. Roy Preston, has been charged with assault. Below is a thank you letter we have received from Jama. As always, he is gracious and kind (he's a lot kinder to the so called 'Justice System' than we'd be) but the real thanks should go to him for his courage and readiness to speak out. He always understood that what happened to him is the day to day experience of countless people in his community. He took a stand on their behalf he should be proud of.

Message from Jama Jama to OCAP

I would like to thank everyone who supported me and believed in me from Day 1. Without you, I wouldn't have made it this far. Also, I want to thank the Justice System from standing up and protecting an innocent member of our society - myself.

It's time now for our police system to stand up and protect the weaker members of our community. It's time for our police system to do just that.

I'd like to say to those of you who have supported me and encouraged me that this issue is far from over. Only one officer got charged but four officers assaulted me. If the other individuals don't think they are responsible for what took place on August 4, 2003, they are wrong. They are responsible as much as he is. They should come forward and do the right thing.

Jama Jama, June 1, 2004

Previous Updates:

CROWN BOWS TO COMMUNITY PRESSURE, DROPS CHARGES AGAINST JAMA JAMA

On February 16, members of the Somali Community and their friends packed an Etobicoke courtroom to see if charges laid against Jama Jama would be dropped. Jama had been been the victim of an unprovoked beating by Toronto cops and had then been accused of assaulting them. Sadly for the upstanding reprsentatives of 'Toronto's Finest', the whole episode had been captured on video without their knowledge.

A senior Crown came out to Etobicoke to take charge of the ceremony of capitulation. She acknowledged that there was no reasonable prospect of convicting Jama on the charges and announced they would be withdrawn. In this rare situation, the cops have been unable to criminalize one of their vicitms. The real issue now is to take on their racist abuses. OCAP pledges that it wil work with Jama, his family and commmunity and all decent minded people to take this fight to the 23 Division and those who direct them. Justice will be served when those to blame for the brutalization of Jama and thousands of others face the consequences they deserve. Until then, there is no justice.
Previous call-out to have the charges dropped:

SUPPORT FOR JAMA JAMA: DEMAND THE CHARGES BE DROPPED
** CALL THE HEAD CROWN AND COME OUT TO COURT **

On August 4 of last year, Toronto police responded to a call around a 'disturbance' outside a donut shop on Albion Road in the North-West Toronto community of Rexdale. As they pulled up, people on the scene scattered. One young man, Jama Jama, however, followed their instructions to stay where he was. He was grabbed, beaten badly, then charged with assault police and causing a disturbance.

What the police did not know was that another person was making a video of the whole incident as it unfolded. It is clear that Jama was beatenwithout any possible justification and, contrary to the police account, was clearly unhurt before his interaction with them began.

Since the beating, Jama has refused to stay silent. He has been speaking out about what happened to him and about the reality of policing in his community.

On February 16, Jama has his next court appearance on this matter. His community supporters are demanding that these outrageous and totally unjustified charges be dropped at that time.

Close to 400 signatures were delivered to the Head Crown Attorney this week, collected by and from Jama's community in Rexdale. Add your voice to the call for the charges to be dropped by writing or calling the Crown Attorney's Office. And come out to court next week to support.