Clint Twolan, president of the Hamilton Police Association, has pushed the Hamilton police about 30 years into the past with his comments about Matthew Green's carding complaint.

For decades, members of the African-Canadian community have sustained relentless racial profiling, discrimination and harassment by police officers across North America. Finally we have reached a point where police forces across Ontario have acknowledged the systemic racism perpetrated by some members of their forces, and have made attempts to correct the behaviour, knowing that it contravenes Canada's Constitution and Ontario's Human Right's Code.

It takes a lot of courage to stand up to police harassment, and usually the average citizen has a hard time having their claims taken seriously, let alone substantiated. When a city councillor comes forward to state that they have been mistreated and violated by someone who has sworn to uphold the law, it should be a chance to closely examine the problem and figure out a way to prevent future abuses from happening.

Instead, in Hamilton, the police union president chose to discredit Coun. Green, and claim that he is using his complaint to further a "political agenda," and by doing so has created a "circus."

Mr. Twolan should be prepared to state what "political agenda" he is referring to. If it is to eradicate racism, uphold the Charter and prevent Human Rights violations, I think it is a pretty good "political agenda."

There is nothing political about being the subject of harassment and discrimination. Police union presidents should be more careful about how they approach issues of racism because the public is not blind, nor are people naïve enough to believe that police do not target African-Canadian and indigenous communities across Canada.

Twolan further states that the new Ontario regulations that came into effect Jan. 1, 2017, and Coun. Green's complaint will have a "cooling effect" on officers. If it is a cooling of arbitrary stops, then that is a good thing because arbitrary detention is a violation of our country's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Those who enforce the law should not violate the law. Police officers can engage if it is justified, but when they engage some more than others based on race, it is a serious problem that needs to be corrected.

In addition, Twolan states that he finds it pretty disappointing that a city councillor would use a venue like this to further his own political agenda. Mr. Twolan should recognize that Coun. Green is not the only one who wants to see an end to abuse of power and systemic racism. Most good people believe one should not be judged or targeted by their ethnic origin or the colour of their skin.

The venue of a police hearing is precisely what the Police Services Act provides for. How else would a professional be held responsible for any misconduct that is alleged? Professional associations often have regulatory bodies that discipline their members in order to keep the public safe from abuse. This is no different.

It is irresponsible for the Hamilton police union president to think Coun. Green is launching the complaint for attention. It is furthermore divisive and backwards since our society has made such strong strides forward over the last 30 years to become a community that does not discriminate.

This has now become a spectacle because of Twolan's comments. It would not do justice to say that I am disappointed over Twolan's quotes, I am far beyond disappointed. I am flabbergasted, appalled, and in utter dismay as to how anyone could think that enduring years of racism and finally complaining about an incident is an attempt to create a circus.

Twolan should re-examine the purpose of his comments.

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If it is to cast doubt on Coun. Green's claim, it will not work. The facts speak for themselves. If it is because he truly believes racism does not exist, I would like to live in the world he lives in because a lot of us have been on the receiving end of discriminatory practices that cause irreparable damage.

Twolan owes Coun. Green an apology. That will be a positive step forward for the community, as we do not want all the hard work done to address racism to be undone with talking points that only serve one purpose, and that is to divide.