Roger B. Jones: “35 years ago, I transitioned into a new stage of life. Part of my old self was left on the side of the highway near the Halifax International Airport. Further into the future was of little concern because I was more worried about the immediate possibilities of existing with a spinal cord injury. Soon after though, I could not help thinking; what next?”

“What could be more racist than not even acknowledging one of the founding groups in your region? asks Thandiwe McCarthy, writing about his home province of New Brunswick. “We have no place to show our art, no building dedicated to our history, no representation at our universities, no representation in our news, none in our government. At every single level In New Brunswick being Black has been pushed into the shadows, while we have been here contributing to society for centuries.”

Some 700 Mi’kmaq people and allies came to the Grand Parade in downtown Halifax for a solemn and moving gathering and healing walk in memory of Chantel Moore. Chantel is the 26 year old mother from the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation killed by a police officer early in the morning of June 4th, in Edmunston, New Brunswick, during what was supposed to be a wellness check.

Raymond Sheppard: “The Canadian government, in concert with the African Canadian community, could establish the mandate and or purpose of the public inquiry, and provide the funds necessary out of the money it made from the historic enslavement of the African and the trillions that this wrongdoing generated and continues to generate.”

Press release: We call on the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners, Halifax Regional Police Chief Dan Kinsella, Justice Minister Mark Furey, and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil’s Liberal Government to develop a plan of action to reform policing practices and to help mend the broken policing relationship with the African Nova Scotian community. Systemic changes are needed now!