As outrage over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis continues to be felt across the continent, protestors are taking to the streets in cities across North America to make their voices heard.
In Vancouver, police tweeted just before 7 p.m. on Saturday that 鈥淧rotestors have taken over the intersection of Main and Hastings, and traffic is blocked in all directions.鈥�
Police advised drivers to avoid the area.
Videos posted to social media show around 100 people, most of whom wore masks and appeared to leave space between themselves and other protestors, marching through downtown 麻豆传媒映画carrying handwritten signs and chanting 鈥淏lack lives matter.鈥�
However, another more formal protest organized by Jacob Callender (@boy_pollo on Instagram), backed by @blackvancouver, is set to take place in 麻豆传媒映画on Sunday evening, May 31.
Callender outlined the details of Sunday's peaceful protest in an IGTV video posted on Saturday afternoon. He said he's currently expecting to see between 1,000 and 2,000 people show up.
The local anti-racism rallies come as a response to the killing of Floyd, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck until the man became unresponsive, as well as the death of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who died after falling from the balcony of her Toronto apartment on Wednesday while police officers were inside.
As public health officials continue to urge British Columbians to maintain physical distancing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rally organizers are encouraging attendees to wear masks and stay two metres apart.
Meanwhile, the 麻豆传媒映画chapter of Black Lives Matter (BLM) explained in a Facebook post that while members 鈥渉ave been in touch with the organizers of this event,鈥� BLM has 鈥渞espectfully declined to participate鈥� as members 鈥渄o not feel that we can ensure the safety of our community in public protest at this time.鈥�
The post continued, 鈥淏lack Lives Matter EVERYDAY. Indigenous Solidarity, ALWAYS. Not just when we are collectively traumatized by another guileless savage gang of cops. We appreciate this act of solidarity and the coming together of Black and Indigenous people to facilitate healing from and amidst police brutality.
鈥淲e are very much interested in helping organize something similar in the future. Black and Indigenous community members can come together to dream up this offering. Our communities have both suffered immensely from systemic oppression and white violence. With unity, we have and will survive ... Right now, our priority and concern is keeping Black people safe and promoting some rest.鈥�
The post also contained some advice for white Vancouverites wondering what they can do to help support anti-racism efforts.
鈥淧lease research options for dealing with community distress,鈥� it read. 鈥淐ommunity solutions exist and educate yourself on what they may be. We need you to stop calling the cops for situations that they do not know how to handle. Call out anti-Black racism when you see it. Acknowledge the fruits of Black culture, and stop appropriating it. Don鈥檛 ask to use the word N****r. You can鈥檛. Pressure your city government to de-fund police budgets. Support the families of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, George Floyd and Samwel Uko. Fund organizations like Black Mutual Aid BC, Hogan鈥檚 Alley Society and numerous others like ours, working for the Black community.鈥�
