MP's questioning of UWindsor law prof viewed as 'racist' during federal committee on bail reform

During a federal committee hearing examining Canada's bail system, Conservative MP Larry Brock questioned University of Windsor assistant law professor Danardo Jones in a way some are describing as racist.

Last week, Jones provided testimony before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He pointed to inequities in Canada's judicial system for racialized and marginalized people.

When people are racially profiled by police, Jones said that leads to an over incarceration of Black and Indigenous people. Since bail is based on credibility and trustworthiness, Jones said that puts racialized people on an unfair playing field.

"Some people, because of certain racial narratives, are deemed to be more credible, more trustworthy," said Jones. "There's a profound issue with how risk is understood and how we read risk on particular bodies."

He said this is an instance where race sensitivity and awareness comes into play.

"Where are you getting this data from," asked Conservative MP Larry Brock, a former crown attorney, during the hearing on March 8. "I find it rather offensive that you're using this broad stroke to categorize the crown system and the judicial system when it comes to marginalized individuals, Black and Indigenous, as not receiving a fair shake in our bail system."

Brock also referenced Jones' seven years of experience as a criminal defence lawyer as a "small period of time that professor Jones has actually practiced law."

As an invited expert panelist, Jones said he did not expect to be cross-examined in this manner or his credentials dismissed.

He described it as a "very uncomfortable situation" for him.

Now, the head of the Black Studies Institute at the University of Windsor has sent Brock a letter explaining why this interaction can be interpreted as racist.

"In treating professor Jones as an imposter, pretender, and someone unworthy of civility, you enacted all of the anti Black tropes that we at the Black Studies Institute have worked to counteract," said founder Natalie Delia Deckard.

Brock has not responded to CBC's attempts for an interview.

The University of Windsor's Racialized Academics & Advocates Centering Equity and Solidarity (RAACES) has also sent the institution's president, chancellor and board calling for action. 

They, too, say this interaction makes Jones "a target of racism" and are calling on the university to defend him.