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Last Updated: Oct 21st, 2007 - 09:55:08 |
It has been five long months since African American journalists, Tonye Allen and Ann Brown, hailed that cab last year on October 16, 2006. Blatant victims of racial profiling and police brutality, the couple has struggled since then to share their story, gain public support, and raise funds in their bid for freedom in a foreign land.
On that fateful day, police from Toronto Division 51 detained the two without explanation. When the couple asked questions, the police turned violent, beating up and arresting Tonye Allen, while assaulting Ann Brown.
Allen was eventually charged with assault and resisting arrest. The couple had hoped by now the charges would have been dropped. The journalists, whose combined writing and photography credits include Essence, Black Enterprise, VIBE and Rolling Stone to name a few, have been trapped in Toronto ever since, fighting for justice while trying to maintain their daily livelihood. Both are professionals with no prior criminal records.
The Crown, (the city of Toronto's office of prosecution ) is now filing formal charges and pursuing a case against Allen, two counts for resisting arrest and two counts for assaulting a police officer. Allen still does not know what he was initially being arrested for, and maintains he never fought back. Photos of his brutalization pretty much corroborate his story.
Allen and Brown are still struggling to raise monies for lawyer fees and their hotel bill. Their blog, which posts details of their drama, can be accessed at
www.TonyeAllenandAnnBrown.blogspot.com.
To sign a petition in their support go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/946246942.
And finally, financial support can be forwarded to www.Paypal.com, Account: brownannl@gmail.com.
Their lawyer, Jason Bogle can be reached at http://www.bogleslawoffice.com.
"We are exhausted and traumatized," expresses Brown. "I keep trying to find a bright side in all this, but right now I'm hard pressed. We are humbly asking for prayers and support and we come through this ordeal."
Makeda Smith operates Jazzmyne Public Relations and has written this letter on behalf of Tonye Allen and Ann Brown. makeda@jazzmynepr.com
© Copyright 2006 SeeingBlack.com
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