5 Months Later Beaten Hip Hop Journalists Struggle
Hip Hop Stand Up- Recognize & Speak Out. Five months after being beaten and brutalized, black hip hop journalists still struggle for freedom in Canada.
[USPRwire, Thu Mar 15 2007] It has been five long months since African American hip hop journalists, Tonye Allen and Ann Brown hailed that cab last year on October 16, 2007. Blatant victims of racial profiling and police brutality, the couple has struggled since then to share their story, gain public support, and raise funds in their bid for freedom in a foreign land.
On that fateful day, police from Toronto Division 51 detained the two without explanation. When the couple asked questions, the police turned violent, beating up and arresting Tonye Allen, while assaulting Ann Brown.
Mr. Tonye Allen is an African American hip hop photographer whose work has appeared in many hip hop related publications as L.A. Weekly, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Vibe Magazine, and The Source among other.
In his 45 years, he has never once been arrested but his recent visit to Toronto, Canada, with his fiancée, Ann Brown, has shed light again in the hip hop community on the police brutality which, according to the numbers, is becoming rampant in Toronto; and now American tourists seem to also be at risk as in the case of African American hip hop photographer Mr. Tonye Allen.
"We are exhausted and traumatized," expresses Brown. "I keep trying to find a bright side in all this, but right now I'm hard pressed. We are humbly asking for prayers and support and we come through this ordeal."
Hip Hop Stand Up- Recognize & Speak Out: this could be any one of us. Five months after being beaten and brutalized, black hip hop journalists still struggle for freedom in Canada.
For more information and ways to support Tonye Allen and Ann Brown thru this: please visit
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