The Quebec Human Rights Commission has awarded Chantal Lapointe $33,000 in damages after they determined she was racially and socially profiled by Concordia University campus security officers in 2013.
"After years of being unjustifiably intercepted, questioned and expelled from buses and downtown businesses, I am now vindicated," Lapointe said in a statement provided by the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR).
While walking from the Guy-Concordia metro station, through the tunnel and into the EV building on Concordia's downtown campus, Lapointe was stopped by two campus security guards who asked her to provide identification. Lapointe, who was not carrying ID, refused to cooperate, and the police were called to intervene.
"They weren't stopping anybody else," she said at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Lapointe is of Haitian origin, is overweight, and dresses in plain clothing. She has trouble walking and often carries multiple bags with her. She believes that security guards stopped her because they thought that she was homeless. Lapointe has never been homeless.
"In the security report they describe her as a black homeless person," said Fo Niemi, Executive Director of CRARR. "They even refer to her as Mme. Voodoo because she is Haitian, and one of the security guards even said that (Lapointe) threatened to cast a spell on them. So those are obviously the types of stereotypes that we felt led the commission to conclude that she was the victim of racial profiling."
When the police arrived, Lapointe was told she would not be allowed into Concordia's library, and if she did not leave, she would be arrested,
In addition to the damages awarded to Lapointe, the Commission demended that Concordia eliminate institutional policies that target and stigmatize homeless people. They further recommend that all security guards undergo anti-discrimination training.
"At the time there was a policy at Concordia that allowed the security guards to stop and check everybody for ID and even to expel them from the premises," Niemi said. "That policy might be applicable to everyone, but it may have an adverse effect on homeless people."
Niemi believes this ruling sends a strong message to private security firms on campuses across the province and in shopping centers about how to treat people of colour and people who are homeless or are perceived to be homeless.
Concordia University and the private security firm that it employs has until October 27th to comply with the commission's recommendations or the case will go before the Human Rights Tribunal.