Toronto Police Sued for Profiling Over ‘Hairy Legs’

Seven people are suing the Toronto Police Department for $1.4 million for wrongful arrest during the June 2010 G20 summit. Women involved in the suit claim that they were profiled for “having hairy legs.”

The five women and two men claim the police used “unreasonable criteria” and treated them with “profane, sexist and homophobic” comments during their detention, following the mass arrests that took place outside the summit.

The group’s attorney, Davin Charney, told reporters that the female plaintiffs believed they were profiled by the police for having hairy legs.

According to the defense team, a note written by an officer at the time of the arrests was found by the Ontario Independent Police Review Director, which read, “All parties appear to be protesters; backpacks; clothing and females all have hairy legs.”

When one of them asked for the reason for their arrest, the Toronto police officer said they “would make one up,” said Charney.

One officer allegedly made derogatory comments, and told the female plaintiffs to “shave your legs, you dykes.” Alicia Ridge, 27, claims she was sexually harassed at the time of the initial search.

“My arresting officer, who was male, decided to do an initial search of my body, which was just basically running his hand up the side of my leg and grabbing my ass, along with sexualized comments and comments that were put out there to create fear,” news agency The Canadian Press reported.

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