Dudley Laws
Dudley Laws was an influential Jamaican-Canadian activist born on May 7, 1934, in St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica. He immigrated to England in 1955, where he trained as a boilermaker and welder, later moving to Toronto in 1965. In Canada, Laws became deeply involved in community activism, particularly with the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the Jamaican-Canadian Association. He co-founded the Black Action Defense Committee in 1988, advocating for independent police oversight and improved race relations. Laws was notably active in addressing police violence, prompting the establishment of the Special Investigations Unit in response to the tragic death of Lester Donaldson in police custody. Throughout his life, his work extended beyond Black communities, engaging with various cultural groups, including First Nations, South Asians, and Sikhs. Laws faced personal challenges, including legal troubles, but maintained a steadfast commitment to activism until his passing on March 24, 2011. His legacy continues to resonate, marked by numerous awards celebrating his contributions to social justice and community engagement.
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Subject Terms
Dudley Laws
Activist
- Born: May 7, 1934
- Birthplace: St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica
- Died: March 24, 2011
- Place of death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Significance: Dudley Laws was a controversial civil rights activist in Toronto’s Black community. Laws co-founded Toronto’s Black Action Defense Committee in 1988. The group was founded following the death of Lester Donaldson, who was shot by police. Laws’ activism frequently focused on police behavior and race relations. Laws’ continued interest in activism was fueled by a series of shootings of Black men by Toronto-area police during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1992, following the acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers in the death of Rodney King, Laws led a protest outside the United States consulate in Toronto. What began as a peaceful protest turned into a riot and brought extensive criticism of Laws.
Background
Dudley Laws was born in St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica, on May 7, 1934, to Ezekiel and Agatha Laws. In 1955, when he was twenty years old, Laws immigrated to England and attended Kensington College. He trained as a boiler-maker and welder. Laws’ interest in activism began while staying in London’s Brixton neighborhood. In 1965, Laws moved to Toronto and became involved with the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which was founded by Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey. He also joined the Jamaican-Canadian Association and the Universal Negro Improvement Association, which became the Universal African Improvement Association. He continued as a welder until the 1970s, when he began working at a printing company. Laws also worked as an immigration consultant. In 1988, he co-founded the Black Action Defense Committee along with Charles Rach and others. The committee pushed for independent police oversight and launched a variety of campaigns to improve race relations throughout the area. Although Laws is most frequently associated with his work in Black communities, he also worked with other groups, including the Filipino, First Nation, Sikh, and South Asian communities.
Life’s Work
In 1990, Laws asked then-Premier Bob Rae to establish an independent investigative body in response to the death of Lester Donaldson, a Black man with mental illness, who was shot by police. The Special Investigations Unit was created in response to Donaldson’s death. The unit investigates all police shootings.
In May of 1992, Laws led a protest in front of the US consulate in Toronto. The demonstration followed the acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers accused of the beating death of Rodney King, and the shooting of a Black drug suspect by Toronto police. The protest began peacefully but devolved into a riot when approximately 1,000 Black and White young people began destroying property and looting businesses. Laws also founded or cofounded the Black Inmates and Friends Assembly, the Immican Youth for Skilled Organization, Albert Johnson Committee, the Lester Donaldson Committee, and the Black Youth Community Action Project.
According to Laws and his supporters, his criticism of police behavior and allegations of racism made him the target of at least two major investigations, both of which resulted in arrests. In 1991, Laws was charged with conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants in and out of Canada. He was initially convicted and fined. However, an appeals court ordered a new trial and the charges were dropped. In 1995, Laws was charged with rape. He was eventually acquitted of that charge.
Laws’ analysis of racial concerns within the Toronto-area police force and his dedication to the Black community carried through up until his death. During the last month of his life, Laws was confined to a hospital room. In February of 2011, Laws checked himself out to attend a previously scheduled Black History Month celebration with the inmates at the Joyceville Institution in Kingston, Ontario. Roughly one thousand supporters turned out for a ceremony honoring his activism. On March 23, 2011, Laws held a meeting at his hospital bedside with key activists, primarily from the Black Action Defense Committee, and told them there was considerably more work to be done.
Impact
Over his lifetime, Laws won numerous awards, including the Bob Marley Memorial Award, Canadian Black Achievement Award, Dinthill Alumni Association Spirit of the Community Award, Jamaican-Canadian Community Award, Lion’s Club Memorial Award for Advocacy, Marcus Garvey Memorial Award, and Manning Past Student Association Award.
Personal Life
Dudley Laws died on March 24, 2011, at the Humber River Regional Hospital following cancer and liver disease. He and his wife, Monica, had five children. Days before his death, Laws was honored by the Jamaican Canadian Centre in Toronto.
Bibliography
Aman, Mesfin. “A Tribute to Dudley Laws.” Heritage Matters, 10 Nov. 2011, www.heritage-matters.ca/articles/a-tribute-to-dudley-laws. Accessed 3 July 2023.
“Black Activist Dudley Dies.” CBC, 24 March 2011, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/black-activist-dudley-laws-dies-1.1015957. Accessed 3 July 2023.
“Black History Month: Celebrating Dudley Laws.” McMillan, 23 Feb. 2021, mcmillan.ca/news/black-history-month-celebrating-dudley-laws/. Accessed 3 July 2023.
“Builders of the GTA: Dudley Laws, a Fierce Advocate for Social Justice.” Toronto City News, 2 Feb. 2021, toronto.citynews.ca/2021/02/02/builders-of-the-gta-dudley-laws-a-fierce-advocate-for-social-justice/. Accessed 3 July 2023.
“J’can Activist in Toronto Dudley Laws Dead at 76.” Radio Jamaica News, 25 Mar. 2011, http://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/local/jcan-activist-in-toronto-dudley-laws-dead-at-76. Accessed 3 July 2023.
Kuitenbrouwer, Peter. “Remembering: Black-Rights Activist Dudley Laws.” National Post, 24 Mar. 2011, nationalpost.com/posted-toronto/remembering-black-rights-activist-dudley-laws. Accessed 3 July 2023.
Richmond, ‘Otis’ Norman. “Dudley Laws, 1934–2011, Leading Toronto Anti-Racist Fighter.” Socialist Action, 3 Apr. 2011, socialistaction.ca/2011/04/03/dudley-laws-1934-2011-leading-toronto-anti-racist-fighter/. Accessed 3 July 2023.
Winsa, Patty. “‘Fearless’ Black Activist Dudley Laws Dies at Age 76.” The Star, 24 Mar. 2011, www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/03/24/fearless‗black‗activist‗dudley‗laws‗dies‗at‗age‗76.html. Accessed 3 July 2023.