WHY WONT THE LEAGUE LET OUR KIDS PLAY ProAction along with the Toronto Police Service approximately two years ago, decided to take a stand against violence. As is the misleading perception of police services - Did they go into various households and intimidate and badger the occupants, loading them into police cars and driving them away NOPE. They started to teach kids, inner city kids, how to play football. They started with 16 children and their nervous, wary, but hopeful parents. Now in 2009, they have over 125 children. Happy, eager, excited and JUST ITCHING TO PLAY FOOTBALL. At first practice this year, as we anxious parents looked at each other, we saw smiling faces among our children. Children of every hue under the rainbow, boys and girls, some even wearing hijab. With them were Metro's finest. Teaching our kids, OUR KIDS, to be an extended family, traits of honesty, discipline, dedication to home/school and the ability to survive, to rise above the odds that were aligned against them. Part of this is the high cost of equipment and fees. A heartfelt thank you to ProAction for providing these items to the children because otherwise these children would be unable to Participate. Yet, the team has not been allowed to play. WHY Many of these parents do not have what the League considers proper id. Birth certificates are an expense we can ill afford. It requires money, time off work and documents that we may not have access to as this is not our home country. Other legitimate documents can be provided, yet they are not being accepted. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN DO NOT CARE IF THEY ARE NOT RANKED, THEY JUST WANT TO PLAY BALL!! So much so that even after their Sunday game was canceled, They told their parents, we are sticking around to play and play they did. In the hot sunshine, they ran around and laughed, got sweaty and continued to make linkages and friendships that hopefully will stand them in good stead in the years to come. All KIDS, regardless of race, creed, religious background and/or circumstance should be allowed TO PLAY. Adulthood comes way too soon for inner city kids. Please sign this petition so that we can let the league know we support the Toronto OXMEN Team in their wish to play football. It will also let our sponsor/s know that we are behind these young people and the goals they are trying to accomplish. Sign, share your stories, LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD..as THE CHILDREN CHANT... "WE HAVE AN OXMENS' MIGHT, WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT!!" Do whats right. Sign. Verify your signatures and lets get them playing! Statistics - in case you are interested - The rate of youth crime across Canada has increased by 30% in the past decade. Over the past 5 years, the number of youth arrested/charged in all major offence categories has increased, with the exception of violent crime. Police officers across Canada report that kids are at risk from negative peer pressure, dysfunctional families, criminal propensities, drug abuse, temptations and other environmental factors. - copsandkids.ca -