Black Canadian Jail Guard Who Was The Target Of Workplace Racism Received Hate Mail

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Racism is even poppin off in good ole Canada. SMH:

A guard at the Toronto Jail has asked Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal for an investigation into racist graffiti and hate mail targeting black officers. The complaint suggests the racism originates with other staff at the jail. In his affidavit Leroy Cox, who has worked since July 2004 at the facility also known as the Don Jail, has identified six pieces of racist hate mail sent to the jail, some of them targeting him. Cox says the racist letters first started appearing seven years ago and may be coming from other guards working in the jail. “I am nervous all the time, I am paranoid many-a-times,” he told CBC News. “It’s really hard. I’d just like to return to work in a clean environment, right? And the culprits found and dealt with in the proper manner.”

Lawyers for the Ministry of Correctional Services asked that the tribunal dismiss Cox’s application for a hearing, saying the matter should go back to a grievance settlement board that dealt with the issue in December, 2010. But Julian Falconer, Cox’s lawyer, says that board has been ineffective in dealing with the problem.

“There is a public interest in rooting white supremacists out of a jail,” Falconer said. “Keep in mind that in addition to being in a position to harass their fellow racialized officers, these white supremacist officers are in charge of inmates, often inmates that are black.” In 2010, Falconer wrote to Toronto police Deputy Chief Tony Warr, alleging that racist hate mail sent to the jail advocated “for the killing of black correctional officers,” prompting the Toronto Police Service to open a hate crimes investigation. The probe remains open.

One of the letters Cox cites, received April 1, 2010, reads: “Some of these a–hole n—a’s will be killed.. Cox… Segregation today segregation tomorrow Segregation forever.”

In November 2010 another letter filled with racist language and expletives threatening black officers arrived. The letters KKK were written at the top and bottom of the page. In March 2011, Cox noticed a graffiti swastika on a wall in the jail with “snake and rat” written below it. He says those words were often used in hate mail to describe black correctional officers. Cox had just returned to work in January 2011 after being on extended leave because of the harassment. In July 2011, he went on leave again after jail supervisors revealed more hate mail targeting him.

“Why did you return Coxey. The workplace is so peaceful without you f—ing n—as why don’t you all stay the f–k out,” one letter says. “Cox only a matter of time f—er.”

Cox remained off the job until January 2012. In a statement filed with Cox’s affidavit, former local OPSEU president Chris Cosier says he was asked by a ministry investigator to help track the possible sources of the racist hate letters.

Cosier says a senior staff member at OPSEU thwarted his attempts to get involved. “I was informed…that I could not assist in any way with the investigation.”

OPSEU declined to comment to CBC News.