Recognition of racial profiling crucial for ‘historic’ class action ruling in Montreal: lawyer

By means of Canadian Press

Sep 4, 2024 | 2:04 PM

MONTREAL — A Montreal lawyer who co-piloted a successful class action lawsuit against the city of Montreal over racial profiling by police says it’s not so much about financial compensation as it is about acknowledging bias.

Mike Diomande says the decision released Tuesday is “historic” because it finds that people of color in the city have been victims of profiling and their Charter rights have been violated.

Diomande’s response came a day after a Superior Court judge ruled that racial profiling is a “systematic” problem within the Montreal police force and that victims are entitled to up to $5,000.

The case was brought by the Black Coalition of Quebec, which had been fighting for years.