SASKATOON – A rally was help outside of TCU Place in Saskatoon Wednesday night to protest what is known as police carding. That’s when officers stop people on the street to question them and ask for identification.
The rally coincided with a police commission meeting taking place at TCU Place. The commission is getting public input on how people feel about the way the police service is run.
Those who rallied outside the meeting said carding is both unethical and unnecessary.
“It is unethical because it is an example of racial and class profiling, carding … poor and working class people, predominately people of colour,” said the rally’s organizer, Kota Kimuara.
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Carding is legal, and most police departments do it. While police are allowed to ask people questions, people also have the right to refuse to answer.
Identification is necessary when a person matches and suspect description.
“It’s an important conversation that’s happening across the entire country,” said Saskatoon police board commissioner Carolanne Inglis-McQuay.
“Saskatoon is no exception to that rule, and because of that we are trying to get out ahead of the game and make sure that we, as a board, are comfortable with the practice that’s being executed in Saskatoon.”
Saskatoon police officials said they are reviewing the practice carefully.
Leena Latafat contributed to this story
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