Yesterday we reported how Equity Watch calls for major structural changes to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission to deal with the many complaints about its fairness and timeliness that have been raised over the years. One of the speakers at the virtual launch of the report was Connor Smithers-Mapp, a Black lawyer with a special interest in human rights and racism. This is what he said.
Equity Watch calls for major structural changes to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) to deal with the many complaints about its fairness and timeliness that have been raised over the years. The organization lays out its critique and recommendations in Justice Impeded, a well-researched and detailed 50-page report that was launched through a virtual press conference this morning.
New police powers allow for impaired driving tests without a valid reason to believe that drivers are actually impaired, and that spells trouble for Black Nova Scotians, a lawyer says.
Street checks are banned in Nova Scotia, and Halifax Police is set to issue an apology. This is a good thing. But unfortunately you can’t ban racism, and Monday’s Board of Police Commissioners showed we have a long way to go.
“What bothers me the most in all of this is that city lawyers advanced this argument that the racist slurs directed at Y.Z. were protected under free speech provisions.” We talk with Equity Watch spokesperson and lawyer Connor Smithers-Mapp about how unions, councillors and management continue to evade the issues of racism, homophobia and misogyny at the City’s workplaces.
City bureaucrats have no idea how many Halifax Transit users are subjected to racist attacks. People who call 311 to report a racist incident may well end up dealing with an argumentative operator who raises doubts about the veracity of the caller. Just two things that came to light during a panel discussion on the increase of racist attacks on Halifax Transit users.
A newly formed group wants police and Halifax Transit to take verbal and physical incidents of racist violence on buses and in public spaces everywhere much more seriously. The problem isn’t new, but lately it’s been getting worse.