This campaign seeks to amplify the voices of students on campus demanding cop-free campuses. Students have a right to pursue their education in safe and supportive environments without fear of police targeting them for harassment or violence. CESAR will work to provide education and amplify student voices calling for community-led alternatives to policing, and an end to systemically racist, anti-Black, and oppressive police structures at Ryerson and in society.
After years of organizing against the special constables program already on the Ryerson campus, the Toronto Police Service announced that Ryerson had signed a contract with them to bring TPS officers to work on campus.
Students on campus diligently organized against this proposal, and in June 2020, Ryerson announced that they won’t be going through with the special constables program.
The university has released a statement stating that, “Ryerson will be convening a working group to hold further consultations with students, faculty, and staff to discuss how we can develop a safety and security model that works for the Ryerson community. The working group, which will include representation from different stakeholders on our campus, will report back to senior leadership with their recommendations.”
To learn more about the campaign and how to get involved, please fill the form below.