Youth to mark Jeffrey, justice campaign

Youth to mark Jeffrey, justice campaign

TORONTO–Migrante Ontario Youth, with the support of the Community Alliance for Social Justice and Philippine Advocacy Through Arts and Culture, is holding a cultural event on Saturday, June 28, 2008, 2-4 pm at Wellesley Community Centre, Room B, 495 Sherbourne Street, Toronto (northeast corner of Wellesley and Sherbourne Sts.). The event, entitled “What Makes a Hero”, aims to commemorate Jeffrey Reodica and the Justice for Jeffrey campaign, and to update the community on the results of the campaign.

Jeffrey Reodica was 17 years old in 2004 when he was shot three times in the back by Det. Constable Dan Belanger of Toronto Police Services’ 41 Division in Scarborough. His death caused an uproar in the community, leading to the formation of the Justice for Jeffrey Coalition (J4J) which held protest actions and succeeded in getting a Coroner’s inquest conducted one year after Jeffrey’s death and generated responses from the Toronto Police Services Board and the Ombudsman of Ontario.

Migrante Youth Ontario’s organizers were part of J4J.

“It’s important not to forget what happened to Jeffrey and how the Filipino community came together to demand justice for his death,” says Debbie Celis. “Two important things can be learned from this – one, that challenges like racism and discrimination are very real in our community; two, that as a community we are capable of acting together and in solidarity with others to fight for our common interests.”

Divine Montesclaros explains: “We decided to have ‘What Makes a Hero’ now, because it was around this time in 2004 when the Justice for Jeffrey campaign was taking shape.”

“What Makes a Hero” will feature music and spoken word performances by young artists in the community, highlighting issues of Filipino youth. Speakers, including members of the Justice for Jeffrey Coalition will report on the results of the J4J campaign, as well as members of the Reodica family who will give updates on the current status of their legal battle.

For more information and to perform, contact Mithi Esguerra at (647) 239-6553 or Debbie Celis at (416) 556-6265, or e-mail migranteON.youth@gmail.com.

PRESS RELEASE