Thousands chant to denounce racism
Big turnout for Black Lives Matter NL rally in St. John’s
They were far away from Minneapolis where George Floyd screamed for his life, but thousands of people in St. John’s chanted in unison Saturday to help ensure his and the voices of all black people would not go unheard.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, people of all ages and races, but predominantly white, packed the parking lot and grounds in front of the Confederation Building in St. John’s for a peaceful rally organized by Black Lives Matter NL to denounce racism and discrimination.
Chants of “Black Lives Matter,” “We can’t breathe” and “No justice, no peace” echoed throughout the area as many in attendance were armed with signs — some of them reading, “Racism is a pandemic too,” “Silence is violence,” “Colour is not a crime,” and “No lives matter until black lives matter” and “I can’t breathe.”
“We really thought it was important to be here today,” Megan Fillier told The Telegram near the start of the rally. “It’s hard not to feel helpless … and we wanted to take action.”
As the strong winds gradually died down, the voices of the participants got stronger.
With many powerful and touching moments, the message about anti-black racism was clear — “enough is enough.”
Several passionate speakers took to the microphone on the steps of Confederation Building during the two-hour event, including co-founders of Black Lives Matter NL, Brian Amadi.
Lottery lovers will be happy to hear that scratch and breakopen lotto tickets are now permitted to be sold.
And you can say good-bye to your “COVID cut” — hair salons, spas, esthetic services, body piercing, tattooing and tanning salons can open in accordance with guidelines.
Some of the guidelines include not accepting walk-in clients, staggering appointment times, and avoiding high-risk services that require close contact with a client’s face over an extended period where clients cannot wear masks.
While restaurants were operating take-out and delivery throughout the pandemic, they are now permitted to open for dine-in service. Buffets and other self-serve options, however, remain prohibited.
Some changes you can expect to see at restaurants include: availability of hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the premises, tables arranged to ensure physical distancing with a maximum of 50 per cent of normal capacity recommended, a maximum table size (provincial guidelines suggest six guests), and no walk-ins at restaurants that accept reservations.
Bars, lounges, cinemas, children’s play areas and arcades remain closed.
CULTURE AND RECREATION
Some outdoor recreational activities can resume on June 8, but spectators must maintain physical distancing.
The following sports are permitted outdoors: tennis, individual sports and activities, badminton, ball hockey (no checking), baseball, basketball (no contact), flag football, gymnastics, rowing, rugby (no contact), sailing, soccer, softball and volleyball.
However, competitions of any kind are not permitted. Group huddles, high fives, handshakes and similar congratulatory gestures are not permitted.
In St. John’s, municipallyowned outdoor sports fields still remain closed until further notice.
Outdoor pools and handsfree splash pads can operate with a limit of 20 participants in the pool and deck area, including staff, provided everyone can maintain physical distancing.
Summer day camps can operate, with restrictions. Registration for recreation summer programs in St. John’s begins June 11.
While golf courses were already permitted to open under Alert Level 4, some of the restrictions will be further relaxed at Alert Level 3. For example, clubhouses, restaurants, washrooms, retail and common spaces are permitted to open, and lessons, league play and tournaments (without receptions) are permitted.
The following recreational activities remain closed: playground equipment, gym and fitness facilities, yoga studios, indoor tennis and squash facilities, arenas, indoor pools, indoor gymnasium and court facilities, dance studios and performance spaces. However, gymnasiums may be used to host summer day camps.
Museums and historic sites are now permitted to open, with some guidelines in place for reopening.
Some changes visitors can potentially expect based on the guidelines include: a oneway traffic flow pattern, room capacity limits and cashless or no-contact payment methods.
CAMPING
On June 12, day-use activity at 13 provincial park campgrounds and seven day-use provincial parks will be permitted.
On June 19, overnight camping for self-contained units (no tenting) at the 13 provincial parks campgrounds will be permitted, with restrictions.
The 13 provincial park campgrounds include: Barachois Pond, Butter Pot, Blow Me Down, Dildo Run,
Frenchman’s Cove, JT Cheeseman, La Manche, Lockston Path, Notre Dame, Pinware River, Pistolet Bay, Sandbanks and Sir Richard Squires Memorial.
The seven day-use parks include: Arches, Cataracts, Chance Cove, Codroy Valley, Deadman’s Bay, Dungeon and Gooseberry Cove. No picnic tables or washroom facilities (except outhouses) will be available, except at the Arches where they will be available Wednesdays through Sundays.
At all parks, playgrounds, boat rentals, and comfort stations including shower and laundry facilities will remain closed, and the only accepted form of payment will be debit or credit card.
A campsite reservation service will be launched on June 11 with details about the service expected to be announced before the launch.
Overnight camping is expected to resume in full during Alert Level 2.
Many national parks opened previously on June 1.