Montreal North mayoral candidates need to address 'anti-black racism,' activists say

A newly formed activist groupis calling onmayoral candidates inMontreal Northto address what itcalls "systemic anti-black racism in Quebec."

Members of MontrealNoir say they came together following the death of Bony Jean-Pierre, a 46-year-oldblack man who wasshotby police with a rubber bulletduring a drug raid in the boroughlast month.

Activists say the shootingshows little has improved in relations with police.A march organized in his memoryand tohonourFredyVillanueva, an 18-year-old shot by police in 2008, ended in violence.

• Bony Jean-Pierre, man shot during Montreal North drug bust, has died
• Montreal North vigil to remember Bony Jean-Pierre, Fredy Villanueva
• Police forces fail when not reflective of diverse population, activists say

Montreal Noirwants mayoral candidates to propose solutions to what it sees as the major issues facing the borough, includingracial profiling by policeand a high poverty rate.

"We think it's an important time to take astand on these issues," RobynMaynard, a spokeswoman for the group, said Wednesday.

"So far we have not seen enough attention about this during the campaign."

The borough, locatedalong theRivire des Prairies in the northeastern partof the island, isone of the city's most ethnically diverse.

It also hasone of the highest reported crime rates on the island, according to statistics provided by Montreal police.

Nearly 30per centof thepopulation lives below the poverty line, according to a recent report by Centraide.

Four candidates are in the running to become the next mayor of Montreal North, including:

• Christine Black,quipeDenisCoderrepourMontral
• KerlandeMibel,ProjetMontral
• JacquesMassicotte, Independent
• RachedTeffaha, Independent

The positionbecame availablewhenGillesDeGuirestepped down in January after being charged withsexual assault against a minor.