‘We all have a part to play’
Cape Breton community of Mabou to hold rally against racism
MABOU — Cape Breton is a long way from New York City.
The driving distance from Mabou to the Big Apple is 1,527 km. That’s a long haul. But when it comes to the demographics of culture, ethnicity and population, the two places are even further apart.
Yet, the social unrest that has surfaced across America and around the world in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died last month while being arrested by Minneapolis police, is not being ignored by residents of Cape Breton’s tranquil and sparsely populated west coast. A community rally against racism is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. on the grounds of the Mabou Arena.
Event co-organizer and Mabou native Kate Beaton, a renowned cartoonist who spent a number of years living and honing her craft in New York City, said it’s time for people everywhere to step up and address the very real problem of racism.
“We’re just saying that we are here, too, and that it’s not just the cities that have systemic racism and it’s not just the cities that have white privilege,” said Beaton.
“We all have a part to play and we all have things to work on, so it’s important for everybody to be involved and to do the work on this — we have to acknowledge that racism exists in our own communities and we have to put our words into action.”
The rally will feature a number of speakers, including Waycobah elder and First Nation councillor Steven Googoo, who has recently helped spread awareness about racism in hockey.
“Racism continues to be experienced by members of our community in Cape Breton/ Unima’ki,” said Googoo.
“There have been unfortunate incidents like what happened with Logan Prosper and the racist comments he faced at a hockey game in Cheticamp this past winter, and the frequent hateful letters and comments you often see in the news and on social media — there is a long way to go to end racism and we all have a part to play.”
Other speakers will include Darnell Kirton and Selah Best, both from Sydney’s Whitney Pier neighbourhood which has for more than a century been home to one of Atlantic Canada’s largest black communities.
Kirton and Best were at the centre of last week’s peaceful rally at the Cape Breton Regional Police Service headquarters in Sydney where an estimated 1,500 showed up to protest racism, racial violence and heavy-handed police actions.
Organizers of the Mabou rally are asking that all participants wear a mask, disposable ones will be made available at the event, and to practise social distancing. There is ample parking at the arena and people wishing to remain in their vehicles can do so while picking up the audio on a local radio feed.
Supplies to make placards and signs will also be provided.