PSA: 3rd annual Quebec mosque shooting vigil
Wednesday, January 29, 5 PM – 6 PM, Grand Parade, Halifax
Racism
Weekend video: Black mother, Black daughter, by Sylvia Hamilton
This weekend’s video is Black Mother, Black Daughter, by the amazing poet, artist, historian and filmmaker Sylvia Hamilton.
Desmond Cole: Halifax police publicly downplayed Santina Rao’s injuries hours before reporting them to oversight agency
It took more than a day after the attack on Santina Rao for Halifax Regional Police to report the incident to SIRT, the organization that is tasked with investigating all such violent incidents. Toronto author and journalist Desmond Cole looked into the delay.
Raymond Sheppard: Police training 101, or how to take a bite out of anti-Black racism
Raymond Sheppard looks into the training police officers receive, and has some ideas how to make it better. “If police officers across Canada had the above-mentioned training they might not feel the need to bully and use excessive force against African People and other Persons of Colour.”
Judy Haiven: In the fight against police brutality and racism, we need community leaders and their organizations to be seen
Judy Haiven: “I know it was the coldest day of the winter. Maybe some of them couldn’t attend. But today, more than a week after Rao being attacked and arrested, one of the easiest things to do to support her and anti-racism is to speak up, to write an article, an op-ed, a letter. But caring leaders in the broader community remain silent.”
Letter: Good cops, bad cops
“Over the years, I had the pleasure of knowing some very good police officers within the Halifax Regional Municipality.” A quick note by Raymond Sheppard.
Judy Haiven: When two lemons don’t make lemonade
Judy Haiven: “The Black community and its growing number of allies will not accept the continued violence, arrests and yes — street checks — by the Halifax Police. And, hopefully, the “good burghers” – Halifax’s white residents – will actually support the Black community’s struggle against police tyranny.”
News brief: Deal with racial profiling and brutality, or step aside, Board of Police Commissioners told
Earlier today poet and activist El Jones told the Halifax Board of Commissioners that it must deal with racism and police brutality of step aside. She made some excellent points.
Raymond Sheppard: On Halifax police apologies and its use of excessive force
“Excessive force used by police in situations involving Persons of Colour is nothing new, it has been happening for hundreds of years and continues at an alarming rate,” writes Raymond Sheppard.
Weekend video: Raymond’s story – Who am I?
A short (one minute) but powerful video about tireless activist and frequent contributor Raymond Sheppard. “Throughout my history I have been looked down upon and labeled by people of European descent. (…) As I grew and became stronger in knowledge of self I realized I am none of the above.”