Raymond Sheppard: When will African Nova Scotians see justice in the courts and on the streets?
Raymond Sheppard on the urgent need to fix systemic anti-Black racist bias in the courts and in policing.
African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition
Remembering why Black lives matter. Senator Wanda Bernard on Bill S-255, the Emancipation Day Act
Nova Scotia Senator Wanda Bernard wants Canada to designate August 1 as Emancipation Day, to remember the formal abolition of slavery in the British colonies, to recognize the magnitude and immense evil of slavery but also the resilience of enslaved Africans, and to reflect on the enduring impact of slavery. On October 23 of last year, at Second Reading of her Bill S-255 Bernard explained why she feels so strongly about this. It’s a very good read.
Broad coalition of African Nova Scotian organizations wants police street checks stopped now
Recently more than 25 African Nova Scotian organizations in a joint statement asked that the practice of police street checks be stopped immediately. The NS Human Rights Commission meanwhile has claimed African Nova Scotian support for the analysis it is conducting. When asked who these supporters are the Commission essentially tells me that it is none of my business.
African Nova Scotian coalition doesn’t want UN report collecting dust on a shelf
A United Nations report critical of Nova Scotia for not acting on longstanding grievances within the African Nova Scotian community has strengthened the resolve of a newly formed coalition of about 20 community groups to keep these issues in the public spotlight, says spokesperson Robert Ffrench. We talk about the importance of the report, reparations, and how many of the issues raised in the report have been documented over and over.
Political parties respond to questions important to African Nova Scotians
Responses to a survey of the political parties on matters important to African Nova Scotians are in. I don my editorial hat to complain, and my reporter’s hat to report. But hey, these hats sure look the same, sometimes even I can’t keep them apart.