Post for Desmond Cole

Dear Mr. Cole:
 

I read the article "The Skin I'm In" which you wrote for Toronto Life. It must be a nuisance and hurtful to your self-esteem to be stopped by the cops 50 times, just for not having the right skin colour. I'm white so I've never been stopped, even when I drove a car for 9 years commuting to work, so I guess I'm lucky that way.
 

My friend Hussein Adani, who is from Somalia, has asked me to contact you on his behalf. He has endured mistreatment from members of the Parking Enforcement Unit of TPS. I am forwarding to you a letter which I intend to send to 10 politicians and journalists, which describes the mistreatment my friend has endured. Hussein owns a Somali restaurant and he used to feed me, and I write letters for him (his restaurant is closing on June 30). Would you be so kind as to read the letter I wrote, and let me know what you think? I am hoping that Hussein eventually gets vindicated and is no longer persecuted by TPS. He is a nice guy and he doesn't deserve the treatment he has endured. I hope that due in part to your activism and efforts to spread the word, eventually police carding will be abolished, giving blacks like Hussein and yourself the freedom to not be stopped and harassed. Thank you.

 

Regards,

Mike Hahn

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mike Hahn <hahnbytes@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 16, 2016 at 4:41 PM
Subject: Injustice committed by Parking Enforcement Unit of TPS
To: Mike Hahn <hahnbytes@gmail.com>

To Whom It May Concern:
 

I am writing this email on behalf of my friend, Hussein Adani, who I believe has been unjustly targeted by the Parking Enforcement Unit of the Toronto Police Service. Hussein gives me free food at the restaurant he owns, and in return I have helped him approach each of you regarding this injustice (English is not his first language since he is from Somalia, and he doesn't own a computer). Here is a list of the organizations and individuals I have approached in the past:

1. Kevin Donovan, Toronto Star
2. the fifth estate, CBC
3. Go Public, CBC News
4. Gerry McNei​lly, OIPRD
5. Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General of Ontario
6. David Orazietti, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
7. J. Paul Dubé, Ontario Ombudsman
8. Bill Morneau, Finance Minister (Toronto Centre MP)
9. Mitzie Hunter, MPP
10. Kristyn Wong-Tam, Councillor

What follows is an abbreviated version of the email which I helped write for Hussein and previously sent to each of you:

 

Hussein was the victim of police harassment on 6 occasions between 2003 and 2013. The police knocked on his door at 3 a.m., asking for ID. The police searched his home at 7 a.m., looking for one of his employees. The police interrogated him (and his waiter) at his restaurant, claiming that some of his customers were criminals. Two plainclothes policemen entered the basement of his restaurant, identified themselves as cops, and left. The police came looking for one of his former employees (who worked for 2 weeks and then left, 2 years previously), pushed him into the kitchen, and used profanity when asked for a badge number. The police went to strip search, in his restaurant basement, someone they arrested outside on the street. When Hussein objected because he didn't want to get involved, they implied to him that he was being unhelpful (not wanting to help police).
 

The main complaint that Hussein has against the TPS is that parking enforcement officers were harassing him and threatening to close his restaurant, as well as unfairly ticketing both himself and his customers (while leaving the customers of a nearby Pizza Hut alone). The police have suspended his driver's license, and he is now unable to deliver food. He had to fire all of his employees, resulting in stress due to overwork. His business has suffered, he serves fewer customers and is much worse off financially now, compared with 2004. He is afflicted with nightmares, insomnia, and self-hatred.
 

Hussein is a Canadian citizen, taxpayer, family man, activist, athlete, has no criminal record, and supports the community. All he wants is a fair trial and equal justice. He needs your help in resolving his complaint against the TPS and the Parking Enforcement Unit in particular. Hussein is a good man and I urge you to join me in being of assistance to my friend, since I believe that he has been wronged and his cause is worth fighting for.

 

Regards,

Mike Hahn