Montrealers mistaken for robbers awarded $60,000 in discrimination case

The Quebec Human Rights Commission has ordered Montreal police to pay $60,000 in damages in a racial discrimination case involving three residents who were mistaken for thieves while they were cleaning a garage.

The commission ruled that police officers made racist remarks in a 2004 incident in which they drew their guns on Gemma Raeburn, Peter Charles and Frederick Peters while the three were cleaning out Raeburn's garage in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, on the West Island.

A neighbour called 911 after spotting the trio, believing a robbery was in progress.

Police arrived with their guns drawn, and when Raeburn protested, one officer replied that "bullets don't see colour."

Another officer told one of Raeburn's friends if he didn't like it here, he should go back to his own country.

The three complained to police, and the force's ethics ruled the remarks were discriminatory, and suspended the officers for two days.

The commission's ruling, released this week, has awarded each of the complainants $20,000 for moral and punitive damages.

Raeburn, who is a bank executive and active member of Montreal's Black community, hopes police have learned a lesson. "We [black people] don't all look alike, we don't all speak the same languages," she said Tuesday. "The complexion of Quebec is changing and we need to change with that."

The ruling provides some closure, she added. "It has [had] a big impact on me for the past five years. I felt a loss of dignity.There was a lot of fear, because guns were drawn at me, and a lot of concern for my life," she said.

But the case may still drag on, because Montreal police are under no obligation to pay the damages, said Fo Niemi, founder of the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations.

"The city fights tooth and nail, at taxpayer's expense, and uses all kinds of procedures to delay and obstruct and try to get these cases to not move forward," he said.

Montreal police say they won't comment on this case. Officials with the city of Montreal say they're studying the ruling and will decide whether to appeal.