http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Justice4TonyeAndAnn
Hailing a cab seems to be a crime in Toronto. That's what Ann Brown and Tonye Allen were trying to do on Oct. 16 at approx. 1:45 pm, after checking out of the Econolodge Hotel in Downtown. Police from Toronto Division 51 detained the two without explaining why. When asked for an explanation, the police turned violent, beating up Tonye Allen, who never resisted and continued to ask why he was being arrested. At the station, Ann Brown was told by Det. Moyer that they hadn't decided what to charge Tonye Allen with. He eventually was charged with assault of police officer two times and resisting arrest two times. Ann and Tonye remain in Toronto fighting the charges and trying to raise funds for legal fees. Both are African American journalists. In fact, Ann Brown had previously written glowing articles about travel to Toronto. Tonye Allen, who has no criminal record, is a professional photojournalist.
They are also seeking to locate the person who video taped the incident from across the street that day.
You have find out more about Ann and Tonye at http://www.tonyeallenandannbrown.blogspot.com .
to:
Mayor: David Miller mayor_miller@toronto.ca
Toronto City Hall, 2nd Floor, 100 Queen St. West, Toronto ON M5H 2N2
Phone: 416-397-CITY (2489)
Fax:416-696-3687
C/C:
Police Chief:Bill Blair william.blair@torontopolice.on.ca
Toronto Police Service
40 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M5G 2J3
Telephone +1 416 808-2222
Det. Moyer: 51 Division
51 Parliament St., Toronto, ON , M5A 2Y5
Phone: 416-808-5100
Police
headquarters: communications division
Main Number 416-808-8871
Toronto Tourism dept. Communications Coordinator
Justine Palinska 416-987-1739
jpalinska@torcvb.com
Manager, Consumer Media Relations
Sousie Tsotskos 416-987-1736
stsotskos@torcvb.com
Dear Mayor Miller.
The People urgently requests that you take the following dispositions in the case of American Citizens and reporters Tonye Allen and Ann Brown:
* All charges must be dropped,
* Public apologies are in order
* Firing of the offending Officers
* Immediate public release of Tonye Allen's mug shot
* Immediate public release of the police report
* Immediate release of video footage at the police station and hospital where Tonye Allen as taken and again beaten by the police
* Full reparations/compensation for legal and hotel fees
If the proper action is not carried out instantly, the People will send a critical mass alert to all constituencies, calling for a global touristic boycott on Toronto.
We trust, Mayor Miller, that you will DO THE RIGHT THING !
