Detroit Rapper Claims Racial Profiling at Canadian border

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Detroit rapper sues over alleged Canadian border hassles

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 | 2:24 PM ET

CBC Arts

The owner of a hip-hop record label based in Detroit says he has launched a lawsuit against Canadian immigration officials over alleged racial profiling of black hip-hop stars.

Jerome Almon names 95 border guards and two former federal ministers of immigration, Denis Coderre and Elinor Caplan, in the lawsuit filed in Michigan last week.

Almon told CBC radio he has been detained and questioned at the border 117 of the last 120 times he crossed into Canada.

He is claiming $900-million US in damages in the suit, saying his right to do business in Canada is being impeded by harassment at the border.

"My complaint is rather simple. I'm alleging that Canada Customs and Immigration are barring me from entering Canada to conduct business because I'm a black rapper from Detroit," he said.

Almon owns Murdercap Records, a moniker that reflects Detroit's status as murder capital of the U.S.

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He represents Canadian artists and claims to have recorded recent albums in Toronto and Ottawa.

But when Almon tries to cross the border, he is held up for 45 minutes to three hours, he said.

"Their claim is that I have not turned in a police clearance to enter Canada as required by Canada Immigration and that I have a criminal record," he said.

Almon said he has never been convicted of a criminal offence, but he has been arrested twice and those arrests have stayed on his file.

Earlier appeals have failed to resolve problem: Almon

Appeals to earlier immigration ministers and to the Ontario Human Rights commission have failed to correct the problem, he said.

Although Almon's lawsuit was launched in Michigan, he cites the Canadian Charter of Rights, which would not apply there. He also says international law protects his right to conduct business.

Almon's songs include On Ya Neez ###### and How Stella Got My Backhand.

A female police officer who was called to the border at one attempted crossing listened to the CD and hated the music, he said.

He claims to have the support of Canadian hip-hop artists for his campaign.

Almon has been making public complaints about racial profiling at the border since 2003.

There has been no official response from Canada.

My comments: He has 2 arrests; he 'says' he has no criminal convictions but has failed to turn in the requested police report to prove his statement; he has crossed the border 120 times and been 'hassled' 117 times - but he was still allowed in! Does he have any idea what would happen if he tried this going into the US? He would have been banned for trying to enter without producing the police report and if he continued to try to enter would have been thrown in jail! He is also trying to use the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom for a US citizen who has filed his claim in Michigan. Some people!

Edited January 18, 2007 by Kathryn41

[mrc 0]

He clearly needs to 'bust a cap in that azz, yo'

Poor oppressed rappers

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Detroit rapper sues over alleged Canadian border hassles

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 | 2:24 PM ET

CBC Arts

The owner of a hip-hop record label based in Detroit says he has launched a lawsuit against Canadian immigration officials over alleged racial profiling of black hip-hop stars.

Jerome Almon names 95 border guards and two former federal ministers of immigration, Denis Coderre and Elinor Caplan, in the lawsuit filed in Michigan last week.

Almon told CBC radio he has been detained and questioned at the border 117 of the last 120 times he crossed into Canada.

He is claiming $900-million US in damages in the suit, saying his right to do business in Canada is being impeded by harassment at the border.

"My complaint is rather simple. I'm alleging that Canada Customs and Immigration are barring me from entering Canada to conduct business because I'm a black rapper from Detroit," he said.

Almon owns Murdercap Records, a moniker that reflects Detroit's status as murder capital of the U.S.

Continue Article

He represents Canadian artists and claims to have recorded recent albums in Toronto and Ottawa.

But when Almon tries to cross the border, he is held up for 45 minutes to three hours, he said.

"Their claim is that I have not turned in a police clearance to enter Canada as required by Canada Immigration and that I have a criminal record," he said.

Almon said he has never been convicted of a criminal offence, but he has been arrested twice and those arrests have stayed on his file.

Earlier appeals have failed to resolve problem: Almon

Appeals to earlier immigration ministers and to the Ontario Human Rights commission have failed to correct the problem, he said.

Although Almon's lawsuit was launched in Michigan, he cites the Canadian Charter of Rights, which would not apply there. He also says international law protects his right to conduct business.

Almon's songs include On Ya Neez ###### and How Stella Got My Backhand.

A female police officer who was called to the border at one attempted crossing listened to the CD and hated the music, he said.

He claims to have the support of Canadian hip-hop artists for his campaign.

Almon has been making public complaints about racial profiling at the border since 2003.

There has been no official response from Canada.

My comments: He has 2 arrests; he 'says' he has no criminal convictions but has failed to turn in the requested police report to prove his statement; he has crossed the border 120 times and been 'hassled' 117 times - but he was still allowed in! Does he have any idea what would happen if he tried this going into the US? He would have been banned for trying to enter without producing the police report and if he continued to try to enter would have been thrown in jail! He is also trying to use the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom for a US citizen who has filed his claim in Michigan. Some people!

This is a lot like loudmouth-Looie Farakhan's issue with UK in 2001 when he claimed that he had an "intrinsic right to address followers" in that country (reality: he would if he had a UK passport--which he never did; and it also beggared the question of whether he has ever heard of VIDEOTAPES).

Same way, Almon would only have intrinsic "right" to do business in Canada if he were Canadian (which he isn't).

He competes easily with Looie (I know that's not the right spelling, but Farakhan's words make that only apt) as a chop_!

[almaty 19]

How Stella Got My Backhand.

sounds like a love song from a different point of view...

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Welcome to our world.

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could file a suit saying we were victims of prejudice because we were engaged, and we were pulled into secondary often because of our martial status?

All of this being said, what's it matter? Last time I checked, US courts don't have much power over a Canadian government agency. And since when do Americans have a "right" to do anything in Canada. Hmm, they don't. Only Canadian citizens and landed immigrants have the "right" to do business in Canada.

Cass (bebop the great)

Edited January 18, 2007 by bebop + rocksteady

[Robor007 0]

A perfect example of why I hate 'black rappers' like him.

Edited January 18, 2007 by Robor007

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

How Stella Got My Backhand.

sounds like a love song from a different point of view...

he's a member of the slapaho tribe

[irishgirl73 0]

Welcome to our world.

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could file a suit saying we were victims of prejudice because we were engaged, and we were pulled into secondary often because of our martial status?

All of this being said, what's it matter? Last time I checked, US courts don't have much power over a Canadian government agency. And since when do Americans have a "right" to do anything in Canada. Hmm, they don't. Only Canadian citizens and landed immigrants have the "right" to do business in Canada.

Cass (bebop the great)

I should have sued the CBP officials in Philly for denying my "actor" boyfriend entry into the US because of a 2 day overstay.

That poor rapper

Edited January 18, 2007 by irishgirl73

[almaty 19]

How Stella Got My Backhand.

sounds like a love song from a different point of view...

he's a member of the slapaho tribe

lol...that was good