Chief takes knee in solidarity
Organizer says Black Lives Matter march aimed to raise awareness of racism’s impact
Hundreds of people gathered at Confederation Square for a Black Lives Matter rally Tuesday in the wake of last week’s death of George Floyd while being arrested by police in Minneapolis.
Participants gathered late Tuesday morning at Millennium Park and then marched through the downtown to the Peterborough Police station.
The marchers then moved to Confederation Square, across from Peterborough City Hall, for the rally.
At Confederation Square, Peterborough
Police Chief Scott Gilbert and a few of his fellow officers took a knee. Police officers at similar rallies across North America this week have also taken a knee to show solidarity with protesters.
Said Jiddawy, organizer of the event, said he hopes people come away from this being more aware of the issues like racism and how it impacts people such as himself.
People from all walks of life supported the movement to help bring awareness to the issues affecting friends, family and loved ones.
Kelli Marshall, an Indigenous woman, came out to the protest wearing her jingle dress, which is the healing dress of the Ojibway people.
She said it is important for people to come out to support the Black community and to help stop racism wherever they can and to spread love.
“We (Indigenous people) feel for them because we have been a marginalized group for so long, we have had to overcome similar things to them, attempted genocide, which is happening to them today, still happens to us today.”
Speakers talked about being tired of the constant feelings of anxiety they experience when going out in the community and about not being able to cope with it anymore.
Alicia Cloed, a criminal justice major
studying in Toronto and a protest speaker, said the movement was important to her and her sister because of their father.
“This means everything to me, this is my life, this is my reality,” she said. “That is my family out there fighting for their lives.
“My father, is a Black man, he is targeted in this city, he is targeted everywhere he goes no matter what because of his appearance.”
She spoke about the Gladue principles that encourage judges to use restorative justice when it comes to Aboriginal peoples of Canada; where judges must consider all other options prior to jail to help restore balance and harmony within the community.
Cloed said she wishes the criminal justice system would amend the law to include other marginalized communities such as the Black community to restore the over representation of Black people in prison.
“Our Indigenous population is incarcerating at an alarming rate in Canada,” Cloed said. “They are incarcerated at a great extent than Black people and Black people are incarcerated at an alarming rate.”
Peterborough Police issued a solidarity statement on Wednesday morning ahead of the rally.
The statement reads:
“The Peterborough Police Service wishes to reaffirm its commitment to bias free policing and the right for people to gather in peaceful protest. In a world where systemic racism has been embedded by a history of colonization, we understand that we must continuously reaffirm this commitment which is reflected in our core values: á Integrity and loyalty; á Empathy and fairness; á Respect and civility; á Courage and leadership.
“The Peterborough Police Service continues to work with community partners to achieve safety, inclusion and well-being for all.”
Peterborough Police called it a “peaceful demonstration” in advising motorists of the march.
By 1:55 p.m., city police reported the march had ended and streets in the area had been cleared and traffic was back to normal.
Similar protests against racial injustice and heavy-handed police tactics continued around the world on Tuesday.
Four Minneapolis police officers were fired after Floyd’s death on May 25 and one of the officers, who held his knee to Floyd’s neck, was charged with murder four days later.