‘I failed at calling out racist comments’
Coun. Ian Froude promises to do better, and city works on initiatives
“I wanted to share that — and it pains me to say so — but … while in this position on council, I failed at calling out racist comments when they have been made to me about others in our community,” Coun. Ian Froude said during the regular St. John’s city council meeting on Monday.
Froude used some of his time during the “go-round” — when councillors can speak about matters not addressed in the agenda — to talk about racism.
“The brutal death of George Floyd has caused many, including myself, to reflect and to demonstrate.”
Froude said ward councillors hear many concerns from residents, and while most people are reasonable and polite, some are not.
“Unfortunately, amongst a few of those phone calls I’ve had with constituents there have been direct stereotypes which I had taken to be based on ignorance and racism, and I failed to call them out during those discussions.”
Froude apologized for not doing so, and promised to do better.
A few other councillors also spoke about the Black Lives Matter rally that was held on the weekend, and expressed their solidarity.
“I think it’s not enough to just quietly not be racist. I think we have to be explicitly anti-racist,” said Coun. Hope Jamieson.
“And I hope that we’re all doing that work collectively, and that we can come together to find some actions that we can take as a city to do so.”
Coun. Maggie Burton said she is listening to the ongoing conversations, and reading as much as she can about Black Lives Matter globally.
“I hope that we can discuss as a council what we are going to do to develop anti-racism, anti-oppression frameworks and planning within our organization. So, hopefully we’ll have an opportunity to discuss that in the future.”
To that end, Coun. Debbie Hanlon, lead on immigration, said she is working with city staff on some initiatives related to anti-racism to be announced within the next few weeks.