Black Lives Matter

links to help act

Template email
You just have to fill in your name and ward/city (optional) at the end of the email and then hit send! (~2 min)
Email sends to every city councilor in Toronto

The email calls for action on Toronto Police racism, and defunding the police.

Sending the email is a great first step, don't forget to call:
your local city councillors or the mayors office.
Info on the script to do that in the button below!

Google doc of additional information, petitions, ways to help

Access the blacklivesmatter carrd which has updated links on ways to help, additional resources

script for phone calls

Hi there,

My name is _________ and I am calling to express my outrage regarding the astronomical Toronto Police Service budget of $1.076 billion. Following the recent horrific death of young Black and Indigenous woman Regis Korchinski-Paquet, I call upon you to ensure a transparent investigation into her death and start divesting from the systematically violent Toronto Police Service immediately.

Please pledge to do the following:
1. To never again vote to increase the TPS budget.
2. To commit to defunding the TPS budget as we are in “one of the greatest financial challenges the city has ever faced” due to COVID
3. To prioritize the expansion of community-led health and safety initiatives over investment into the police

An increased police presence, which includes TTC inspectors and enforcement officers, does not keep us safe, rather it directly threatens the lives of Black, Indigenous and people of colour. Please commit to investing in community, not cops.

Thank you,
[Your name and phone #]

Additional Concerns/Questions to voice:

  • Putting a freeze on increases to funding to police, and instituting budget cuts of at least 10%

  • Reallocating the budget from police services to life-affirming programs and services including:

  • Poverty reduction programs, housing, health care, education, social programs, income supports

  • Funding and expanding community-led initiatives

  • Replacing Police calls/responses to gender based violence or mental health calls with crisis intervention services

  • Ensuring police that use excessive force are held accountable, investigated, and liable for any misconduct

  • Reducing enforcement initiatives and policing in marginalized communities, TTC, etc

Scroll through the document linked above for more information