Moe slams those who vandalized war memorial
Moe welcomes peaceful protest, but says graffiti ‘unacceptable’
Hours before hundreds of anti-racism protesters rallied outside the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, the premier took to social media to denounce vandalism at a nearby war memorial but voice support for a peaceful rally.
“This is outrageous,” said Premier Scott Moe said on Twitter on Tuesday in reference to a “Justice for Floyd #BLM” message spray painted on the war memorial by the legislative building in Regina.
“Peaceful protest is always welcome at our Legislature, such as the rally taking place later this morning against racial injustice. Vandalism is not acceptable,” he said.
Moe encouraged anyone with information on the incident to contact Regina police.
His tweet, in turn, drew a divided response:
“What’s outrageous is your concern over a thing that can be cleaned ... families losing loved ones because of the colour of their skin is the truly outrageous thing,” read one post.
And another, “I have just been noticing that it always seems to be white people who find paint on a rock or piece of (wood) is more outrageous than a coloured person being killed.”
But one person responded that his brother’s name is on the memorial, “because he lost his life while serving his country. Every name represents a family who suffered the loss of a loved one.”
Wrote another: “Not cool Scotty. No need to draw attention to this. Just creating division amongst citizens before the protests even start.”
Starting around 11 a.m., hundreds of people converged outside the Legislative Building on Tuesday for what organizers dubbed an “emergency solidarity” rally in support of George Floyd, a black man who died after being pinned to the ground by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
Derek Chauvin, the officer seen in a video kneeling on Floyd’s neck, has been charged with third-degree murder.
Floyd’s death has set off a series of protests and civil unrest across the United States. Solidarity protests have also taken place in Canada.
The Regina Police Service (RPS), also on social media, similarly condemned the defacement of the war memorial, but lent support to the cause of the protesters.
In a statement posted to Twitter, the RPS called the actions of the officers involved in Floyd’s death “inexcusable and unacceptable.”
“Our Regina Police Service joins our community and communities all over the world in condemning those actions and calling for an end to racism,” it reads.
The statement went on to say that the RPS is committed to the community it serves, and works to build meaningful relationships.
“Community safety means a community free of racism and we all have a role to play.”
The statement was originally attributed to RPS Chief Evan Bray. However, the RPS Twitter account deleted that tweet, then re-uploaded an image without Bray’s name.
The RPS said on Twitter that the statement was altered so it would reflect that the message was on behalf of the entire police force.
The statement also said that the RPS holds itself accountable “when we fall” and that it ensures steps taken going forward show humility and growth.
In a separate tweet about the graffiti, the RPS called the message important but defacement of the war memorial the wrong way in which to send it.
It asked that anyone with information about the vandalism to contact police.