Social media exposes nasty degree of racism

But political reaction, rallies show there is reason for hope

It’s hard to believe it was only a week ago that the verdict came down in Gerald Stanley’s trial on a charge of second-degree murder in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench. Since then, we have seen a delegation go to Ottawa, saturation on the media and rallies and demonstrations. We have also seen a continuous outpouring of racist comments on social media.

It has become very apparent that a disgusting degree of racism exists just beneath the surface in this province. Social media and the comments sections of news outlets lit up with racist and negative commentary about the not guilty verdict in the case.

This was a serious case that included the loss of life of a young man. The verdict has split the province and race relations have been set back to the 1950s.

One of the main platforms has become social media. This enables anonymity and false profiles that embolden some individuals to spew vitriol that was previously reserved for coffee row, the door step or the local watering hole.

Also, I can’t help but think that the highly vocal rhetoric of the white supremacist government south of the border is seeping over the line and emboldens their like-minded brethren in this country.

My inbox began to fill up with ignorant and uninformed comments. Some were trying to goad me into an argument, but there is a rule in newspapers that you don’t accept unsigned correspondence.

Also, I refuse to get in a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

I was once told to never get in a fight with a pig, you just get yourself dirty and the pig enjoys it.

But the growing pile of garbage began to get under my skin. I took one email that was printable and put it on Facebook. The outpouring of support was admirable. Later in the day, the author of the letter emailed me to complain that I shouldn’t have shared it with my friends because he was receiving threats. Somehow in his bent reality, it was my fault.

I figured boo hoo, he can dish it out but can’t take it.

While the trolls, assorted low lives and bottom feeders came out and had a field day, there were many more good people who rose to the occasion and came out in support of the cause and the sense that something very wrong had occurred. There were rallies and demonstrations across Saskatchewan and across the country. It was amazing that the verdict came down at 7:30 on Friday night and rallies were held across the country the next day.

Our newly elected Premier Scott Moe didn’t hide behind clichés. He came out and said that we had to do better.

“I am listening, our government is listening, and it is important that we continue to listen to the many voices involved in this discussion,” he said.

It was refreshing to listen to his candid and positive response during this serious and divisive time.

He also spent three hours on Saturday evening meeting with Debbie Baptiste and her family before they flew to Ottawa on Sunday.

While in Ottawa the Baptiste family and their delegation met with numerous cabinet ministers, including the prime minister and the minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould.

Wilson-Raybould has been both a B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations as well as a practising lawyer. She was a Crown prosecutor in Vancouver after graduating from law school, so she is familiar with both Aboriginal politics and the practice of law.

She didn’t come out and say it directly, but

I’m sure that in the near future changes to the Criminal Code will include new approaches for jury selection.

Change is coming; this spring, the federal government will introduce a legal framework to implement Aboriginal and treaty rights as affirmed in the Canadian Constitution. Meanwhile we have lots of work to do.

Saskatchewan people have to take a serious look at themselves and their province. We have to reach out to each other and heal the rift among us.

As my cousin said, “Go out and hug your favourite settler.”