The lawmakers, Matthew Green, a Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre, and Sarah Jama, a Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre, questioned authorities' contradictory statements regarding the circumstances under which the 43-year-old Rwandan national was fatally shot.
Hamilton Police initially claimed that the deceased had exchanged fire with officers responding to a 911 call near his apartment in Ontario. However, a subsequent statement from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) indicated that it did not appear Kabera had discharged a firearm during the incident.
'His (Kabera's) death was a violent death at the hands of police, and we join with the community in demanding truth and justice. Reports initially released by the Hamilton Police Service (HPS), which suggested that Erixon had exchanged gunfire with police at the time of his death, have been proven false, according to information from the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU),' the MPs stated.
'Reports of 'suspicious activity' in the area prior to his death also appear to be questionable and racially charged. We agree with the Kabera family that 'the reversal of crucial facts, a full day after telling the entire world otherwise and painting an image of violence, is deeply outrageous and unnerving,'' the MPs added.
The MPs issued a joint statement after meeting with the devastated family of the deceased on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, to share their condolences.
They accused Hamilton Police of racially targeting Black individuals, asserting that 'this is not the first time that Hamilton Police have been directly involved in the serious harming or killing of a Black Hamiltonian.'
'Hamilton Police have also, by their own account, disproportionately used force against members of the Black community during public interactions. Hamilton Police Services must be held accountable for their actions.'
The lawmakers noted that there are many unanswered questions regarding the killing that must be addressed in a timely and transparent manner.
'Why did the Chief of Police allow false information to be released about Erixon carrying a weapon? Why was the Chief so quick to highlight the gun-related injuries of his officers when, according to the SIU report, Erixon did not shoot at police? Why won't video footage from the hallway where this incident took place be released to the family? Why did Erixon's family first learn about his death through an online post from HPS? What 'suspicious activity' in the neighbourhood led to Erixon's violent death in his own home? And why won't the names of the officers involved be released to the public?'
In their quest for justice, the Rwandan community in Canada has organized a vigil to honour Kabera's life and call for accountability.
The night vigil and march will be held at City Hall on Thursday, November 14, at 6:00 PM.
At the time of his death, Kabera was working as a Resource Officer with the Canada Revenue Agency.
In addition to his job, he was deeply involved in the Rwandan community, serving as Vice President of the Rwandan Community Abroad in Toronto and as an advisor for the Rwandan Canadian Healing Center.
He is survived by his wife and three children, aged 10, 13, and 17.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/canadian-mps-call-for-justice-for-rwandan-man-shot-dead-by-police
