Community News
Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board faces numerous allegations of anti-Black racism
BY PAUL JUNOR
It has been eighteen years now since the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) settled complaints that were made against them regarding allegations of racial discrimination by teachers and administrators toward students with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).
The board agreed to several remedies such as: provide anti-racism training to all administrators before the conclusion of the 2006-2007 school year regarding racial profiling and racially biased education, and to develop (during the 2005-2006 school year) an initiate to facilitate awareness of anti-racism and human rights activities within the Board and its school communities for the purpose of encouraging the participation of: students, teachers and administrators.
Unfortunately, since then there have been many allegations of racism, specifically anti-Black racism made against teachers and administrators. The most recent involved Frances Campese, Principal of Cardinal Leger Secondary School who has been a principal since 2019 (according to her LinkedIn profile).
On Monday, November 20th, 2023, Toronto media outlets such across the city of Toronto reported that three students interacted with a police officer who was allegedly assaulted and injured at a Cardinal Leger Secondary School. The reports mentioned that Peel Regional Police (PRP) was informed of the incident before 10 am, on Thursday, November 9th, 2023, after they received a call from Principal Campese that a group of students had assaulted the officer.
The plain clothes youth investigative officer was called to the school by the principal regarding a matter that was not related to the incident. The reports mentioned that there was an interaction in the school’s cafeteria with several students. The officer is alleged to have identified herself and tried to break up the fight during which she was attacked by the students several times. As a result of this, charges were levied at two 15-year girls from Brampton with the assault of a peace officer causing bodily harm, and a 17-year-old for the same charge as well as obstructing a police officer.
Members of the African Canadian community in Brampton have raised concerns about Principal Campese in light of numerous complaints of anti-Black racism that she has faced. The advocacy group, Peel Black Collective sent out an email on Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, regarding the incident. It expressed concerns that the biased media coverage of the incident criminalizes these Black minors, without hearing their versions of what happened. In addition, the public announcement by PRP is troubling as it failed to clearly indicate that the girls are innocent until proven guilty.
A petition was started on March 1st, 2023, by Kiyora Case along with Tiore Hamilton on Change,org regarding concerns that the graduating class of 2023 has about the principal of the school. The petition outlines many of the changes that have occurred at the school, as well as highlighting discussions regarding cultural stoles at graduation. It notes, “Many Black students have expressed a desire to wear their African American heritage stoles, which: acknowledges systemic racism, commemorates our ancestors, and acknowledges Black excellence despite generational attacks.
An array of students has been told that cultural wear, specifically stoles, would exclude others and that wearing them at our graduation would be punishable. This not only affects Black students, but our entirely multicultural student body. This statement demonstrates the lack of knowledge and ignorance towards systems set up to hinder the academic success of all minorities and the issue will only grow if we stay silent.”
As of Thursday, November 30th, there were 1,424 signatures.
On Thursday, December 7th, 2023, a Hybrid Town Hall organized by three advocacy groups will be held to discuss anti-Black racism within the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board. The names of three groups are: Peel Black Collective (a group of residents in Peel region working to organize, mobilize and support our community through education and advocacy), Policing Free Schools and Parents of Black Children (PoBC).