SJ Walsh: Men behaving badly (again)
When politicians get violent. SJ Walsh discusses the alleged altercation between two Nova Scotia politicians, and the message it sends, with her middle schooler.
Month: March 2019
Robert Wright on the Wortley report: Street checks are illegal and should be banned
Robert Wright’s full response to the Wortley report, as delivered at this morning’s press conference at the Central library on Spring Garden Road. Robert Wright spoke on behalf of the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition (DPAD), one of the organizations that long ago demanded a moratorium on the racist practice of police street checks.
Racist street checks are a white silence problem
There is nothing in Wortley’s report about police street checks we didn’t know, or could not have known, or should not have known before. Sure makes you wonder…
On Budget Day poverty activists tell Premier to increase income assistance rates for real
It is budget day in Nova Scotia, and a small group of income assistance recipients gathered in front of Province House to remind fellow Nova Scotians that life on income assistance is unlikely to get much easier as a result.
News release: Nova Scotians are going hungry, join our empty plate luncheon at Province House
News release: On Budget Day, Tuesday March 26th at noon, outside of the legislature, members and supporters of the Benefits Reform Action Group will be gathering for an Empty Plate Luncheon. There are 155,000 people in Nova Scotia living below the poverty line (Market Basket Measure). The 250 plates that will be on display will each represent 650 Nova Scotians who cannot afford the basic goods needed to live in this province.
After partial win in human rights case, coalition wants affected people to file human rights complaints
The Disability Rights Coalition is collecting signatures to an open letter to Premier Stephen McNeil, asking his government to stop warehousing people with disabilities and focus on investing in community living options instead. Alternatively, the group is asking people who are institutionalized and/or waiting for a community living space to file an individual human rights complaint.
Headline news: protesters or water protectors?
Most news organizations in Nova Scotia refer to the Alton Gas water protectors as protesters. I suspect many journalists and editors gravitate to the term protesters because it feels like the more neutral term. The problem is, when you take a closer look, you will find it’s not so neutral after all.
Kendall Worth: Lives on welfare – Maria
Kendall meets up with a woman who had to make the big adjustment from living a fairly comfortable life to making ends meet on income assistance. Find out what happened and learn about her deepest wish.
Halifax rally calls for migrant justice and justice for all marginalized communities
I went to a timely rally in support of migrant rights and against racism and Islamophobia. The event was organized by a broad coalition of social justice and anti-racism groups, and there is much more to come.
For seven years retiring Halifax police chief Blais denied that racism in the force even existed
Police chief Jean-Michel Blais against all evidence denied that racial profiling and rude cops were ever a problem in the Halifax police department. It’s a good thing he’s retiring.