MONTREAL — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) is demanding the release of all video footage related to the death of Nicous D’Andre Spring.
It does so in support of Mr. Spring’s family who are also seeking the release of all video footage that we understand exists. Mr. Spring, a 21 year-old black man, died violently while illegally detained at the Bordeaux Prison last month.
The organization recognizes that this video is deeply disturbing and could be traumatizing and even dehumanizing if shared and viewed indiscriminately. However careful viewing for the critical purposes of transparency, accountability, and providing urgent answers to a grieving family are necessary in the circumstances, in particular when Mr. Spring died within the closed confines of a jail.
“The family and the public urgently deserve answers about what happened to Mr. Spring. We are calling for all video footage to be immediately released. It is our understanding that the footage has been reviewed – and is extremely disturbing. But that is more reason to release the video footage immediately,” said Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, Special Advisor on Anti-Black Racism for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
Mr. Spring died just days after the CCLA and its partners released a major report documenting a sharp increase in the number of in-custody deaths in Ontario provincial prisons. As is the case across Canada, Quebec’s provincial jails are disproportionately filled with racialized persons, as well as those experiencing poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, and those criminalized for substance use. Large proportions of these individuals are presumed innocent and simply awaiting trial. There is a clear need for heightened scrutiny of provincial prisons, not just federal ones, given these systems are those in which the greatest number of people are held.
“This tragic incident speaks to the larger problem of systemic racism in provincial prisons across Canada, and confirms the urgent need to better prevent in-custody deaths and abuses of individuals’ Charter rights in institutional settings,” said Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, Executive Director for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
“Mr. Spring should never have been in custody, the Quebec Ministry of Public Safety has confirmed that he was being illegally detained. Every detail about this case is troubling. For a man to lose his life while in jail, under government responsibility, in such a horrific manner is profoundly troubling,” concluded Mendelsohn Aviv.
The organization notes Mr. Spring’s death raises concerns about the reported use of pepper spray and a “spit hood” at the time of the incident — both often linked to unlawful use of force and abuse in correctional settings.
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About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For more on latest work on in-custody deaths, visit the CCLA’s case page, https://ccla.org/criminal-justice/new-report-released-ontario-deaths-in-custody-on-the-rise/.
Link towards the recording of this morning’s press conference
Passcode: 4c*w*2%$
Text of statement made during the press conference
(Check on delivery)
Recent statement from the Spring family (January 17)
Media Contact:
media@ccla.org
Alex Nanoff – 613.709.6318
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
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