Black lives matter
Summerland Mayor Toni Boot was brought to tears recalling the numerous times she was a victim of racism as the only child of colour in her elementary school.
A crowd estimated at 500 showed up in Gyro Park Sunday for one of the thousands of Black Lives Matters rallies that have taken place around the world since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, organizers of the rally gave constant reminders about safe social distancing and most of the crowd wore face masks. Speakers removed their masks at the microphone.
Boot, who grew up in a mixed race family, said she has experienced systemic racism since her early school days.
When she first moved with her family to Summerland in 1961, she was just a little girl.
“I have faced this racism all of my life,” she said. “As an adult and as a child.”
Her principal in those early days, who became a close personal friend, brought her into his office every school day to give her a mint “because he knew I was being targeted on the playground,” said Boot.
“I was pushed off the merry-goround, knocked off the monkey bars. I was not able to play others kids. I was the only black child in the school system.”
Her parents, who were white, adopted nine of their 10 children and she grew up in a loving family, where several of her black and indigenous siblings also experienced the same racism she did.
One of her older sisters made it her duty to protect her at school.
“Her job was to protect me when we were at school … from physical violence,” she said. “Obviously, the words, she couldn’t protect me from.”
The racism she incurred continued at high school, she said.
“Somebody asked me to help her cheat on an exam and I said I’m not going to do that,” she said. “So she decided it was OK to start calling me fuzzy wuzzy little bear. My next oldest brother was black and my next oldest sister was black as well. He was a big guy and could take care of himself, but often he was fighting.”
That same brother once got in trouble and was sent home after a teacher told him to “shut up, sit down and act like a white man.”
The horrific death of Floyd prompted the largest series of protests since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, but people must not forget “this goes on a lot longer than that,” she said.
Protests around the world are taking place not only because of Floyd’s death, but because the majority of citizens around the world are sick and tired of the oppression of people based solely on the colour of their skin, said Boot.
“Please remember this has been going on for a lot longer than I have lived and as other people have said before me today, please let’s make a change,” she said. “The only way we can make a change is to get together on the same page.”
Boot praised the organizers for staging the event in a short period of time.
Rally co-organizer Austin Johnson said the fact so many people of colour have to declare on their tax form that they are a visible minority is “so messed up ... we all share this planet together.”
Johnson, in his early 20s, said the man he was named after died as the result of a horrific incident with police.
“When he was having a heart attack and he ran to police asking for help, all they saw was a coloured man running toward them and they stomped on his chest until he ultimately died,” he said. “From the very instant I came into this world, I have felt the overhang.”
Johnson said the rally was about systemic racism against all people of colour — including Canada’s indigenous — and to decry the growing problem of police brutality.
“We’re here to make a difference today,” he said. “We’re not just here for black lives, but indigenous lives and all people of colour.
“We’re here to take a stand against police brutality and lack of action taken by police for people of colour.”
Penticton RCMP were invited to participate in the rally but declined the invitation.
South East District chief superintendent commander Brad Haugli said Monday the RCMP has decided not to attend rallies because some may feel uncomfortable with a police presence. People, he said, could feel intimidated if the Mounties have a visible presence.
“The only way we can make a change is to get together on the same page.”
Summerland Mayor Toni Bott
Penticton Mayor John Vassalaki said he attended the rally “not as the mayor, but as a plain citizen, just like the rest of you. I want to stand for this wonderful cause that we’re here to speak about today.”
Vassalaki praised the organizers for putting together the event and praising all those who attended, acknowledging racism must end as all citizens deserve to be treated equally.
“This is a stand for the rights of people to live in peace in this country,” he said. “On behalf of Penticton city council, we join you in the fight against racism.”
Two members of the Penticton Indian Band spoke about their experiences with racism. They are determined to help enact change so their children and grandchildren can grow up in a better world.
Josh Wilson said he’s experienced “many different forms of racism in my life” living in both Canada and the
United States.
“I too believe we all have rights,” he said. “This is how I live my life and this is how I try and teach my children.”
Too many people of colour experience blatant and subverted racism on a regular basis and this must stop, he said.
“I know how this affects people on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “I’ve been trigged because all that has happened and all that’s been in the media … it is change that we need to have happen for all of us to feel safe.”
His cousin Clint George, a member of the PIB council and an artist, said his finest paintings contain a palette of different colours and society must accept that a safe and functioning society must welcome people of all colours and creeds.
“We’re trying to bring together a world where many colours unite and create such a beautiful picture, for my children, my grandchildren, for all of us,” he said. “I think what we all need to concentrate on is the R-word (racism). This is something we need to break and that’s why we’re all gathered here today, to break that R-word.”