Demand Charges Be Droped For Latino Youth

Seventeen year old Oscar Campos Jr. was assaulted by Matthew Wighton a police officer from 42 Division on November 18, 2001. As a result of the assault Oscar was hospitalized and, as is becoming quite common, was himself charged with resisting arrest, assault and trying to grab the police officer's gun. However, another officer witness to the police assault on Oscar took the case to the Internal Affairs department of the Police Department. Despite the courage of the officer who witness the assaul and the evidence, such as the finding of Oscar's blood in Wighton's boot, officer Wighton was found innocent. Oscar, however, will have face the Criminal Justice system and fight the serious charges against him. His next court appearance will be in August 2004. We must stop racially motivated police brutality.Sign the petition to demand that the Attorney General drop the charges against Oscar and to investigate the case.

To sign the petition go to: www.petitiononline.com/2317/petition.html

You can also copy it, print it and gather signatures in your community. Please return to: Magaly San Martin Parkdale Community Legal Services 1266 Queen Street W. Toronto, Ontario M6K 1L3

THE PETITION

The Spanish speaking community of the San Lorenzo parish through this petition manifests its deep concern about the physical assault perpetuated against our brother, Oscar Campos Jr. by uniformed members of the 42 Division of the Toronto Police on November 18, 2001. At the same time, with the attached signatures, our community reiterates its solidarity with Oscar Campos and his family and demands the following immediately:

1.) The dropping of the charges pressed against Oscar, which were invented to justify the beating given to him by the uniformed policemen.

2.) An appeal of the case against the agent Matthew Wighton. The case was taken to the court by the Police Internal Affairs Department and it was not resolved to the satisfaction of the family.

============EN ESPANOL

==========Peticion para demandar que se quiten cargos a joven Latino Petition to demand charges be dropped for Latino youth. Oscar Campos Jr. un joven de 17 anos fue asaltado por un policia de la Division 42, Matthew Wighton, el 18 de Noviembre, 2001. Oscar estuvo hospitalizado despues del asalto y, como es tipico, se le acuso a el de resistir arresto, tratar de quitarle el arma a un policia y asalto. Sin embargo, otro policia testigo de la brutalidad policiaca denuncio a su colega Wighton con el departamento de asuntos internos de la policia. Despues de tres anos, y a pesar de la valentia del policia testigo de la golpiza a Oscar, y contundente evidencia tal como el hallazgo de la sangre de Oscar en su bota, el oficial Wighton fue encontrado inocente. Oscar, sin embargo, tiene que enfrentarse al sistema criminal y pelear contra serios cargos. Su proxima aparicion en la corte sera en Agosto 2004. Debemos detener el abuso policiaco. Firme para pedirle al ministro de justicia que se le retiren los cargos de Oscar y que se investige el caso.

Por favor, firme la peticion en la internet: www.petitiononline.com/2317/petition.html

LA PETICION

La comunidad hispana de la parroquia San Lorenzo por este medio manifiesta su preocupacion ante el asalto físico perpetuado por miembros uniformados de la unidad 42 del departamento de la Policia de Toronto contra nuestro hermano, Oscar Campos Jr. el día 18 de noviembre de año 2001. De la misma manera, atravez de la firmas adjuntas, nuestra comunidad reitera su solidaridad con Oscar Campos y su familia para solicitar de manera inmediata lo siguiente:

1) La anulación de los cargos que se le imputan a Oscar, los cuales fueron inventados para justificar la golpiza proporcionada al compañero por los policias uniformados.

2) Apelación del caso contra el agente Matthew Wighton. Caso llevado a los tribunales por el departamento de asuntos internos de la Policia. El caso no se resolvio para la satisfaccion de la familia.

Si deciden copiar, imprimir y colectar firmas en apoyo a esta peticion,por favor envien sus contribuciones a: Magaly San Martin, Community Legal Worker, Parkdale Community Legal Services, tel. (416)531-2411 ext.248, sanmartm@lao.on.ca