FLOYD, UKO DEATHS GALVANIZE PROTESTERS
Regina rallies draw attention to `wholly insidious' racism in province
Concerned citizens in Regina used the deaths of two Black men this spring to organize marches on the Saskatchewan legislature in early June, calling for peace and an end to racism in the province.
The deaths of football player Samwel Uko and Minnesotan George Floyd galvanized the rallies' organizers and participants; the two men died four days apart — Uko reportedly by suicide in Wascana Lake on May 21; Floyd suffocated by the knee of a Minneapolis cop on May 25.
A week later on June 2, the first of the two rallies happened; protesters gathered in solidarity with other rallies across the continent, all calling for an end to racism, especially toward Black people.
Organizers drew a large, coloured-chalk commemorative portrait of Floyd on the concrete walkway in front of the legislature.
They knelt to commemorate Black people who have recently died after interactions with enforcement agencies, chanting the departed's names, like Floyd, Uko, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and Canadian Regis Korchinski-paquet.
Uko, who grew up in Abbotsford, B.C., had twice sought help for a mental health crisis at Regina's General Hospital.
His family said he was denied service. The Saskatchewan Health Authority apologized for how Uko was treated. His parents are suing the SHA and provincial government for negligence.
One of the organizers, who only used the name Ker, told the Leader-post Canadian racism is more polite, but “wholly insidious.”
“Many times I've observed Canadians looking at the world, particularly the neighbour downstairs, and hotly congratulate ourselves about how good things are here,” said Ker.
“Ask Black kids about their school experiences, and you will be shocked the venomously racist language that their age-mates seem to have gained proficiency in.”
Nine-year-old Alxavier Reid said he knows that feeling. His mother, Latoya, told the rally about the racism her nine-year-old faces. Her son stood beside her holding a sign against bullying.
Premier Scott Moe spoke later that day about the rally, saying, “I have been deeply disturbed by recent events that we have observed in the U.S. and I was disturbed and horrified by the brutal and senseless killing of George Floyd.”
“Racism remains a problem in our societies, in our communities, and we should take every opportunity to speak out against it,” he said.
On June 5 hundreds more people rallied again for racial justice, marching from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum to the Legislative Building.
Several community leaders attended, including then-mayor Michael Fougere and police chief Evan Bray, along with city councillors.
Bray told the large, ethnically mixed crowd he and the police
Racism remains a problem in our societies, in our communities, and we should take every opportunity to speak out against it.
service are committed to rooting out racism internally and in the community.
“I have white privilege. I can't change it, but I can use it,” he said.
“I feel the need to say sorry, because I am sorry that that happened; that tragic, senseless killing (of Floyd) happened … Black lives absolutely matter.”
He took a knee after his speech, joined by Fougere and others, commemorating Floyd.
Fougere said the day's events moved him to reflect on his time growing up in Michigan, where he witnessed racism. “How many time do we have this kind of brutality happen to wake us up?” he said. “We have to do better.”
The continent wide protests after Floyd's death prompted talk about defunding police services in Canada and the United States.
In Regina petitioners gathered approximately 2,300 signatures from supporters for the move here. Their petition demanded Regina police stop all hiring, strip officers of their guns and city council never again vote for a budget increase to the service.
Fougere and councillors Barbara Young and Andrew Stevens disagreed with the proposals.