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attempting to seek refuge in Canada from prosecution in the United States and other asylum seekers. He also represented domestic workers being deported in the 1970s. He further became a vocal critic of the police, accusing them of racism. In 1999, Roach went to
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Roach again went to the courts in 2012 with another class action suit to argue the oath of allegiance to the sovereign is unconstitutional. On June 18, the
Ontario Superior Court permitted the case's continuance. The case was dismissed in September, 2013.
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of the
Ontario Superior Court ruled that Roach could proceed with the lawsuit, dismissing a Crown motion to have the action quashed as frivolous and vexatious. On February 19, 2008, the appeal by the federal government was dismissed by judges at the
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in the 1960s, while also participating and organizing marches and demonstrations for equal rights. He opened his own law practice in 1968, eventually becoming the firm of Roach and
Schwartz Associates. Among his clients were
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festival, serving as its first chair. Roach further established the
Movement of Minority Electors in 1978 to encourage non-caucasians to enter electoral politics and was a founding member of the
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Cotroneo, Christian (2005-12-19). "In pursuit of 'greatness': Four local black mentors recognized for their years of grassroots effort in the community". Toronto Star.
127:, stating: "after the '50s, I started being more political... This was the spirit of the times. I'm really from the civil-rights era." He then studied law at the
553:"Charles Roach, Lawyer, Activist, Caribana, Co-Founder, Caribbean Centennial Committee (CCC), Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto — Who's Who in Black Canada"
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and the case went before the
Ontario Superior Court. Roach's case was dismissed by the court in January, 2009.
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119:, the son of a trade union organizer, Roach arrived in Canada in 1955 as an aspiring priest to study at the
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Through his work, Roach became a leading figure in
Toronto's Black community. He was a founder of the
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twice before: once as a reservist in the 1950s, and again when he was called to the Bar.
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of Canada, not obtaining
Canadian citizenship because of his refusal to swear the
505:"Dying Toronto lawyer has one last chance in battle against citizenship oath"
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463:: Lawyer cleared to challenge loyalty oath to the Queen; May 18, 2007
303:"Charles Roach, Toronto lawyer and human rights advocate, dies at 79"
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Roach died from malignant brain cancer on
October 2, 2012, in
530:"Citizenship oath to the Queen constitutional, court rules"
426:: Immigrant takes oath of allegiance to court; May 9, 2007
192:(CCR) and commented publicly on his desire to end the
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89:(September 18, 1933 – October 2, 2012) was a
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493: (Ontario Superior Court 23 January 2009).
223:, which includes a statement of allegiance to the
392:"Citizens for a Canadian Republic /CCR Executive"
188:Roach was a member of the executive committee of
143:Roach worked as a staff lawyer for the city of
373:: Charles Roach goes to Rwanda; March 11, 1999
165:against human rights abuse charges before the
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446:Lawyer allowed to challenge citizenship oath
599:University of Toronto Faculty of Law alumni
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238:In 2007, Roach again sued, this time as a
167:International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
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16:Canadian civil rights lawyer and activist
359:: He says nay to the Queen; May 11, 2007
594:Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to Canada
474:Roach v. Canada, 2008 ONCA 124 (CanLII)
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528:Canadian Press (20 September 2013).
330:. Roachschwartz.com. Archived from
624:Deaths from brain cancer in Canada
486:Roach v. Canada (Attorney General)
14:
604:University of Saskatchewan alumni
551:Fiona Raye Clarke (2012-09-06).
503:Donkin, Karissa (July 1, 2012),
208:. Roach swore allegiance to the
190:Citizens for a Canadian Republic
123:. Roach was politicized by the
229:Charter of Rights and Freedoms
221:Canadian oath for new citizens
178:Black Action Defence Committee
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589:Canadian civil rights lawyers
215:In 1992, Roach argued in the
19:For the Anglican priest, see
117:Belmont, Trinidad and Tobago
378:September 26, 2007, at the
249:Court of Appeal for Ontario
242:. On May 17, 2007, Justice
87:Charles Conliff Mende Roach
30:Charles Conliff Mende Roach
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555:. Whoswhoinblackcanada.com
121:University of Saskatchewan
18:
431:October 25, 2012, at the
227:, was a violation of the
584:Black Canadian activists
217:Federal Court of Canada
99:and an activist in the
629:Black Canadian lawyers
50:Belmont, Port of Spain
21:Charles Roach (priest)
129:University of Toronto
125:civil rights movement
52:, Trinidad and Tobago
609:Canadian republicans
398:on December 26, 2007
202:Oath of Citizenship
184:Republican advocacy
163:Mathieu Ngirumpatse
579:Lawyers in Ontario
198:permanent resident
131:and was called to
46:September 18, 1933
355:Kopun, Francine;
309:. October 3, 2012
194:Canadian monarchy
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139:Activism and law
69:Toronto, Ontario
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459:Gombu, Phinjo;
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433:Wayback Machine
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210:Queen of Canada
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61:October 2, 2012
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65:(aged 79)
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509:Toronto Star
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400:. Retrieved
396:the original
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371:Now Magazine
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336:. Retrieved
332:the original
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311:. Retrieved
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240:class action
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94:civil rights
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63:(2012-10-02)
619:2012 deaths
614:1933 births
307:thestar.com
196:. He was a
161:journalist
573:Categories
559:2012-10-03
444:CBC News:
402:January 9,
338:2012-10-03
313:2012-10-03
271:References
111:Early life
77:Occupation
42:1933-09-18
328:"Lawyers"
219:that the
135:in 1963.
514:July 30,
429:Archived
376:Archived
174:Caribana
115:Born in
91:Canadian
71:, Canada
265:Toronto
145:Toronto
133:the bar
105:Toronto
489:,
155:Rwanda
97:lawyer
80:Lawyer
532:. CBC
259:Death
101:Black
538:2013
516:2012
404:2009
159:Hutu
58:Died
36:Born
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507:,
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