EVENT: Justice for Jeffrey Reodica Rally

PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2005 - TORONTO, ON

Rally to mark anniversary of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jeffrey Reodica by Toronto Police

Concerned community members from across the GTA are holding a peace march and rally in support of the "Justice for Jeffrey" Campaign on Saturday, May 21, 2005 beginning at 2:00pm at Nathan Philips Square. The march will then proceed to Toronto Police Headquarters and end with a program at the Coroners Office. The event is organized by the Justice for Jeffrey Coalition (J4J) and the Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ) - an alliance of organizations and individuals mainly from the Filipino community.

The march will allow people to express their frustrations and concerns about the unjust killing of Jeffrey Reodica, the controversial results of the SIU investigation and the inaction of the Coroners Office to initiate an inquest. One year has passed: the subject officer was cleared, yet none of the critical issues have been addressed.

A press conference will be held prior to the rally on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 11:00am inside the Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) located at 597 Parliament St. to announce details of the march and for lawyers to give updates on the case.

An "all-call" is formally issued to all GTA organizations, ethnic groups, media outlets and individuals concerned with Jeffrey’s death, and all those who want to end racial profiling and police harassment, to join in solidarity by participating in the march and rally. In addition, the organizers are calling on all youth - including close friends, classmates, and students from all high schools and all school boards to actively participate in this peaceful gathering.

On the afternoon of Friday, May 21, 2004, Jeffrey was shot 3 times in the back by a plain-clothes police officer. He died from his injuries 3 days later in the hospital.

The grade 11 Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary student would have celebrated his 18th birthday and his high school graduation this summer. He was loved by all of his schoolmates, family, friends and co-workers and was known as a caring, good-natured person with a great sense of humour.

A trust fund in memory of Jeffrey has been setup by the family at all TD Canada Trust and HSBC bank locations. The trust fund account names for both are as follows: JEFFREY REODICA MEMORIAL TRUST.

For more information and for upcoming events please visit Jeffrey’s Memorial Website at www.reodica.com/jeff

JOEL REODICA, Justice for Jeffrey Coalition 416-895-0555 2way.joel@reodica.com

MITHI ESGUERRA, Youth Board Member, CASJ 647-273-6553 mithi_esguerra@yahoo.ca