Sharing their Stories – Joseph Briggs
“You are going to have patience and courage.”
What do you do if forces beyond your control turn your life upside down? After being stopped, detained in a series of questionable police actions that appeared meritless, Joseph Briggs knew he had to get his life back, he had to go through the Durham and Toronto Police Services for justice. It would take patience and importantly, resources. In the nine-year legal battle that wound through the HRTO and later the Ontario Divisional Courts, Briggs found that support in the HRLSC.
Sadly, the experience of being racially profiled was not new to Briggs, but facing the indignity of being continually stopped, put in temporary custody and having his license plates run by officers from two different police services left a lasting impact. “Discrimination impacted me in more ways than I thought it did,” says Briggs, “it was emotionally, psychologically and physically taxing.”
Facing this tough situation, Briggs decided to seek justice by filing an application with the HRTO.
“When I knew the HRLSC was going to represent me, I felt heard, I felt I had a voice and it brought me a sense of peace,” recalls Briggs, “knowing I was in the good hands of the HRLSC and their staff of lawyers advocating for system-impacted individuals and communities of colour.”
Briggs was up against the sizeable resources of two police services, so he made a call to the HRLSC for help.
“I heard that the HRLSC provided free legal help and representation to people who have experienced discrimination under the Human Rights Code no matter their socio-economic status.”
He liked what he heard and felt well represented by the HRLSC’s legal team. “The HRLSC [had] the substantive knowledge of the law, particularly Human Rights law,” recalls Briggs, “something I had no expertise in which has been paramount to arguing my case.”
“When I knew the HRLSC was going to represent me, I felt heard, I felt I had a voice and it brought me a sense of peace,” recalls Briggs, “knowing I was in the good hands of the HRLSC and their staff of lawyers advocating for system-impacted individuals and communities of colour.”
Briggs is grateful to have had HRLSC in his corner. “I felt relieved knowing that my case was over, initially winning my human rights case against the police force I was up against,” says Briggs, “I was very appreciative of the due diligence and hard work my Human Rights lawyer had done with my case. I’m forever thankful to my phenomenal lawyers at the HRLSC.”
While the experience was a difficult one, Briggs recommends the HRLSC to anyone else that decides to take the same route he did to seek justice. “If you experience discrimination under the Code and don’t know where to turn to seek legal advice,” Briggs concludes, “contact the HRLSC, their lawyers and staff are kind, attentive and welcoming. You are going to have courage and patience if you decide to do something about the discrimination you are experiencing. Having the HRLSC represent me has been the best choice.”