TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 31, 2016) - A rapidly growing number of college and university educators in Canada have signed a statement of strong support for the Black Lives Matter Toronto (BLM-TO) protest at Police Headquarters. The statement condemns Toronto Police's excessive use of force and demands racial accountability in the city's law enforcement institutions.

Over the past two weeks BLM-TO activists and allies have peacefully occupied Toronto Police HQ at 40 College Street. They are demanding justice for the victims and survivors of police violence, as well as action to end anti-Black racism in the city. The protesters have endured bitterly cold weather and rain. Many of them are students making sacrifices that impact their academic lives. They have withstood unprovoked police brutality intended to disrupt their efforts to keep warm.

The Black educators reject what they see as state-sanctioned and systematic brutality against members of the Black community, such as the recent killing of Andrew Loku. Recent statements from Mike McCormack as president of the Toronto Police Association highlight the continued denial and unwillingness of law enforcement officials to deal with this deep-rooted problem. Black college and university educators call on Mayor John Tory, Police Chief Mark Saunders, and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to meet with BLM-TO in public and put the necessary measures in place to end the targeting of Black youth through intrusive forms of racial profiling such as carding. They further demand that Toronto area civic leaders make immediate and meaningful investment in Black communities.

Members of Black college and university educators will hold a press conference to release a statement in support of BLM-TO protestors: