An Unfinished Reckoning with Police Violence: Community Data Shows Ongoing Systemic Racism

June 8, 2026

A research team from McMaster University analyzed use-of-force data from 17 Ontario municipalities and found that Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities face disproportionately high rates of police violence despite representing small percentages of local populations. The study, conducted over five years in partnership with community organizations, reveals stark disparities across the province—for instance, Indigenous people comprised nearly half of use-of-force cases in Thunder Bay while representing only 15 percent of the population, and Black youth accounted for 83 percent of force incidents against minors in Toronto despite making up less than 10 percent of residents. This research builds on decades of documented police brutality issues in Canada, dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, which prompted a 1995 commission report that has failed to produce meaningful change.

Who is affected

Black communities across Ontario (particularly in Toronto, Hamilton, Durham Region, Windsor, and Ottawa)
Indigenous communities (particularly Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people in Thunder Bay)
Racialized populations throughout 17 Ontario cities and regions
Black and Middle Eastern boys aged 17 and younger in Toronto
Black youth aged 17 and younger in Durham Region
Erixon Kabera (killed by Hamilton police in 2024)

What action is being taken

A research team led by Kojo Damptey is analyzing use-of-force data from Ontario's Solicitor General website across 17 municipalities
Researchers are working with community leaders and organizations including the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre and Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion
Public institutions including police services are collecting and releasing race-based data as required by the 2017 Ontario Anti-Racism Act
Researchers are presenting findings on CBC radio programs (Ontario Today and Superior Morning)

Why it matters

This research documents systemic and widespread disparities in police use of force that have persisted for over 30 years despite previous commissions and reports. The data reveals that Black individuals in Toronto are nearly 20 times more likely than white individuals to be involved in fatal police shootings, and similar disparities exist across Ontario for Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities. These findings provide empirical evidence connecting historical patterns of police brutality to current realities, honoring decades of community struggle and offering concrete data that affected communities can use to advocate for change and hold institutions accountable for systemic racism in policing.

What's next

The researchers aim to provide Black and Indigenous communities with data to enhance their advocacy efforts in addressing systemic racism in policing and to educate the public on the adverse effects of police brutality. They emphasize that community members and organizations who have raised concerns about excessive force should be central to developing interventions, solutions, and paths to liberation.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint