Sunday, August 1, 1999

An Open Letter to faith groups and members of the academic community:

I appeal to you to support the Safe Park in Allen Gardens that will be set
up at 4 pm Saturday, August 7 for homeless people in the City of Toronto by
the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty and to speak out against TARGET
POLICING.

I also invite you to physically be at the park the afternoon of set up. Your
physical presence may serve as a means to protect and support people. If you
can bring something - water, cold drinks or fruit would be appreciated. For
information on other ways to help contact Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
at (416) 925-6939.

Why am I writing you?

Communities of faith and higher learning have served as both witness to
injustice and been an active voice and participant in various movements to
seek social justice around the world.

In particular, when oppressive governments have used the strong arm of
policing bodies to fulfill their goals, and when death and injury have
resulted, members of faith and academic communities have spoken out.  In the
words of Michael Czerny, a Jesuit priest who replaced one of the Jesuit
priests in Central America brutally murdered in 1989:  "Our commitment as a
university community is to the truth, our commitment as priests and as a
Christian community is to the people and the political chips will fall where
they may."

The inherent right to life for homeless people in Canada is not being
protected by our governments.

In its submission to the United Nations titled "Death on the streets of
Canada"  the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee wrote: The government of
Canada's actions and lack of action leading to, and failing to prevent,
morbidity and death, violates the moral and ethical codes of the nation's
religions, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and federal and
provincial human rights codes.

The Unitarian Fellowship of Northwest Toronto recently wrote both Mayor
Lastman and David Boothby, Chief of Police. In their letter to Boothby they
write:
"We urge you and your department to cease and desist from the policy of
social cleansing and to refrain from obstructing the creation of a place of
safety for people who due to poverty, illness or other calamities, have no
place to call home. May you heed the call to compassion and extend your
protection to each and every citizen and not just to those who enjoy wealth,
privilege, and social standing."

In a public letter to NOW magazine this week, nurses Kathy Hardill and
Alicia Odette write: "We represent a group of nurses who have been working
with homeless men, women and kids for over a decade. We have witnessed
police confiscation of precious pieces of identification. We have watched as
weary people are moved along from places of refuge in parks. We have tended
to police-inflicted wounds."

I can personally attest to the need for a safe park and also the danger
target policing practices pose to homeless people in this city.

To express your views please write Mayor Lastman, Chief Boothby, newspapers
and please, if you can please be there.

To offer a donation to assist with the park contact OCAP at 925-6939.

In solidarity,



Cathy Crowe, RN




Housing for all - mark October 2 in your calendar!

Cathy Crowe, RN
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  ******************************************************************
   Where a great proportion of the people are suffered to languish
        in helpless misery,
   That country must be ill-policed and wretchedly governed:
   A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.

   -- Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1770
  ******************************************************************

Dennis Raphael, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate Director,
Masters of Health Science Program in Health Promotion
Department of Public Health Sciences
Graduate Department of Community Health
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building, Room 101
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5S 1A8
voice:    (416) 978-7567
fax: (416) 978-2087
e-mail:   [log in to unmask]