Press Release: September 12, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY: For Immediate Release
September 12, 2008
PAUL CROUTCH MEMORIAL: 12:00noon on Mon., Sept. 15
@ Moss Park (North of Queen St East, East of Jarvis)
Poor and homeless people, allies and advocates are gathering for a memorial at Moss Park at noon on Monday, September 15. We will remember Paul Croutch, a 59-year old homeless psychiatric survivor beaten to death by military reservists next to the Moss Park Armoury in 2005. The soldiers also assaulted an under-housed woman who tried to intervene to defend Paul. Paul is counted among the hundreds of homeless people who have died or been killed in Toronto in recent years.
"People in the community are still very disturbed and outraged", says Beric German, TDRC co-founder. "There's a lot of sadness – as well as fear and anger."
The Moss Park Armoury sits in one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods, surrounded by substandard low-income housing, homeless shelters, and people living and dying outdoors. The area has Toronto's largest concentration of homeless people.
"Psychiatric survivors like Paul face extremely high rates of poverty and homelessness. Stigma, discrimination, and inadequate housing and income supports push marginalized people onto the streets", notes Andrew Mindszenthy, TDRC Outreach Co-ordinator.
Speakers will include Paul's friends, homeless people, psychiatric survivors, advocates on women, poverty & violence, disability activists and anti-poverty activists. Also, a statement from Paul's family will be delivered.
The memorial will include a free meal for poor and homeless people.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
TDRC Office: 416-599-8372
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