Profiling: class action authorized against several cities
Lucmane Vieux ·
The action concerns profiling cases that date back to May 23, 2019.
A class action has been authorized by the Superior Court against several Quebec cities, including Montreal, Quebec City, Longueuil, Repentigny, Laval, Blainville, Gatineau and Terrebonne, as well as the Attorney General of Quebec as representative of the Sûreté du Québec (collectively "the defendants").
It is citizen Papa Ndianko Guèye who is bringing this action that seeks compensation for racialized people who are victims of racial profiling suffered in the context of traffic stops without reason to suspect the commission of an offense (sometimes described as "routine checks") carried out by the police services of the defendants since May 23, 2019.
The organization Lakay, which defends the rights of victims, in Repentigny among others, applauds this collective initiative.
"LAKAY refuses to trivialize these practices. We refuse silence. We refuse to look away while citizens see their fundamental rights trampled. This class action represents an important step toward recognition, justice and accountability," the organization states in a press release.
Who is a member?
You are covered by the class action if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are a racialized person;
- You were subject to a traffic stop carried out by the Sûreté du Québec or one of the police services of the following cities: Montreal, Quebec City, Longueuil, Repentigny, Laval, Blainville, Gatineau and Terrebonne;
- This traffic stop was carried out without reason to suspect the commission of an offense;
- During this traffic stop, you were a victim of racial profiling;
- This traffic stop took place after May 22, 2019.
Legal fees will be paid only in case of success and must be approved by the Court. You therefore have nothing to pay unless you obtain compensation at the end of the class action.
However, you can exclude yourself until May 26, 2026 if you no longer want to participate. This exclusion means that you will not be entitled to any compensation if a favorable judgment or agreement occurs in this class action. Please note that a member is deemed excluded if they do not withdraw, before the exclusion deadline expires, from an originating application they have filed having the same object as the class action.
To exclude yourself, you must send a letter to the clerk of the Superior Court (Montreal Courthouse, 1 Notre-Dame East Street, Montreal, QC, H2Y 1B6), indicating the file number (500-06-001205-224).
"We call on victims, families, allies and the entire population to remain mobilized. The fight against racial profiling requires courage, solidarity and real change," affirms the organization Lakay in support of the class action.
"It is time for impunity to end. It is time for justice to be done," proclaims the organization.