THUNDER BAY - Hundreds of local voices are expected to join in the global outcry against racism and injustice in the hopes of creating systemic change in the world.
“A lot happens with the black and Indigenous youth here and I feel like it’s finally time for people to step up and stop being silent,” said Pitia Modi, one of the organizers of a protest planned for this Friday.
The protest will be taking place at Waverley Park on Friday at 3 p.m. as a show of solidarity with demonstrations taking place around the world following the death of George Floyd, who was killed while in custody of Minneapolis Police last week.
More than 500 people are expected to participate in the local demonstration, which organizers say shows that more and more people are standing up and fighting for racial justice.
“I was very surprised,” said Jasmine Martinez, who initiated the protest. “I didn’t think anyone here in Thunder Bay cared. I think because of how racist this city is, quietly; I didn’t expect it to be this big. It is outstanding. It’s more than amazing. It proves to me that we as a society, we all want to see change. We all do.”
The demonstration is being organized by youth between the ages of 18 and 21-years-old and Modi said he believes the older generation feels the system is stuck and cannot be changed, but the youth see it differently.
“I feel that them seeing the youth bring light to this, it’s the next generation coming up, of people, leaders, presidents, prime ministers,” said Modi. “If we can start from a young age like this, it will cause generations behind us to follow and create change in the world.”
“What it means to me is hope,” said Colleen Peters, president of the Caribbean African Multicultural Association.
“What it means is they are tired. They hear, they see, they live the experience and they are not going to sit idly by to wait for someone else to make the change. They are going to be the change they want to see. They are going to do the work.”
Video emerged on social media last week of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for more than eight minutes. Floyd was in police custody and an independent autopsy revealed he died from asphyxiation.
Just the latest instance of a black individual being killed by police in the United States generated widespread condemnation and Black Lives Matter demonstrations in American cities for the past week, as well as marches in Canadian and European cities.
“I think if everyone tries to standup globally, and I feel if more protests happen in Canada and Europe and everywhere, people will finally see that this isn’t an American problem,” Martinez said. “This is a global problem. We need this. We need to be seen. We need to be heard.”
Many protests in the U.S. have turned violent, with police clashing with protestors and looting taking place. Organizers in Thunder Bay say the protest will be peaceful and social distancing protocols will be enforced and everyone is required to wear a face covering.
“It’s a peaceful protest. It is peaceful,” Martinez said. “We are adamant about that. We are going to be enforcing it to be peaceful no matter what.”
Thunder Bay Police Service chief Sylvie Hauth issued a statement on the protest, saying there is no place for racist or violent behaviours in our society and this is not a time to be silent.
“We stand today and everyday in solidarity with our community and most importantly, with those who experience racism and discrimination in all forms,” Hauth said. “My commitment to you is to remain transparent and accountable in all that we do as a Police Service. To Serve and Protect are empty words if we don’t make the effort to engage with all groups and communities here in this city. We are committed to continuing our work to build public trust.”
Hauth added that the Police Service respects the rights of people to have their voices heard and she has reached out to organizers of the demonstration to ensure it is a peaceful event.
“That line of communication is critical to ensuring everyone’s health and safety and we are very appreciative of the organizers’ efforts in this regard,” she said. “Our purpose in attending the protest on Friday will be to ensure public safety."
Zachariah Leonardi, another organizer of the protest, said they have reached out to city and community leaders, because real change has to start at the top.
“I feel like it’s the duty of the people in positions of power to hold others accountable,” he said. “I’m just a citizen. I can express my opinion, but someone on council, or the chief, if they actually push for it, something could actually happen.”
The demonstration will include a gathering at Waverley Park, as well as a moment of silence, a march around the space for eight minutes, the same length of time the Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck, and speeches.
Martinez said for far too long racism has just been an accepted aspect of society, but it’s not enough to not be racist, you have to standup for anti-racism.
“You have to be continuing to support and respecting and protecting the black communities and Indigenous communities because they are racially profiled every single day for the pigmentation of their skin,” she said.
“Pigmentation of your skin does not relict the intelligence and the worth of a human being. People grow up thinking there are five different races. There is only one race, the human race.”
