DEFUND AND DISARM THE POLICE
I was 14 the first incident. I was having a mental health crisis which required me to be taken to CHEO, an ambulance was called along with police to ensure I co-operated. The paramedics talked to me first, they were very empathetic and compassionate. Then, along comes the police officer and his partner. He started off with a condescending look and tone, criticizing me passive aggressively. I didn't realize why until he was leaving. Although his partner didn't say much, she is what you would consider an enabler. He started off with asking me routine questions. It was all a blur but I do remember the look and tone he used when I chuckled anxiously. He proceeded to say "I don't know why you're laughing, I could have you in handcuffs right now, if you want to keep up that attitude..." so on. He knew he was there for a traumatized kid with depression.I was not aggressive, nor was I rude, if anything, I must have looked terrified. He got out of the ambulance and met us at the hospital. When his work was done, he pulled me aside and said something along the lines of "This is the way it has to be from now on, you're choosing to take this path and go down this road so you'll have to get used to it." The path he was talking about was foster care. As if that's something anybody wants for themselves. Because I was so young, it stuck with me ever since. What I was hoping he would see was the truth, a young girl with nobody to turn to, I just needed counseling. In this grown man's eyes, he saw a potential threat, he was waiting for a reason to handcuff me, although I'm nothing above 5'5 and they had already patted me down.
The second time, it was a couple of months after I turned 15. I was out downtown with a friend of mine. We're the same age, she's just a month older. The only difference between us? We were doing the same thing, except I'm brown while she's white. The police pulled us both aside after she saw us "looking suspicious in this part of town". They ended up telling my best friend at the time that I'm going to to traffick her, seriously implying that "girls in group homes are nothing but trouble". Giving my friend a deadpan stare when she mentioned my living situation after the officer asked about me. My friend tried standing up for me by saying we went to school together and that I'm not a bad person. She played the whole "people change" card. This made my friend uncomfortable. Again, I was only in a group home due to depression and attachment disorders. That was my friend's side of the discussion. The officer that pulled me aside (they were both white women) told me that I would end up trafficking meth (this was not said passively, it was said outright). She also said I'd end up going further because "she's seen it before". I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I was being nothing but respectful, I was shocked. She then proceeded to run my name, asked me if I was reported missing or if I have anybody looking for me (police or otherwise). I said no, she kept on asking me wether I'm sure but I stood by what I said. Thankfully after she ran my name, I was let go.
In case anyone wonders what I did differently back then that got me so much police attention, I wasn't avoiding them like the plague. That's it.
Defund and disarm the police. We need more efficient training, we're sick of this. Put that money towards mental health resources, education, community based programs, give minorities a fighting chance. Casual racism or not, it's gone on long enough.