A recent human rights case, launched by Gyasi Symonds after being racially profiled by Halifax police, is a showcase for all that is wrong with the way the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) deals with human rights complaints and complainants.
After Premier McNeil’s surprise apology for systemic racism in the justice system and the harm it has done, he announced the formation of a design team “to reimagine a system of justice in Nova Scotia”. We talk with Robert Wright, spokesperson for the DPAD coalition, to find out more about its proposals for an African Nova Scotian Justice Institute and a Policing Strategy, and to better understand its criticism of the provincial justice initiative.
On the evening of August 13, 2020, in my own neighbourhood, right outside of my children’s classroom, I witnessed a Halifax police officer accelerate his vehicle to make physical contact with a woman, temporarily throwing her off balance. Vehicular assault. From a block away I could hear her pleading with the officer to leave her alone up until that point. After stumbling momentarily she asked the officer why he’d done that and then used the phrase “Black Lives Matter”. My heart raced.
Open letter by the ANSDPAD Coalition: For decades our community has called on government to work collaboratively with us to address the ongoing issues of racial profiling, over policing, police brutality, systemic anti-Black racism in the justice system, and differential treatment while incarcerated.
Legal Aid lawyers suggest police disproportionately fined members of marginalized and racialized communities while enforcing the COVID-19 emergency acts. Where’s the evidence, asks Justice minister Mark Furey. Well, the minister is the reason that evidence has not been collected.
It appears that Halifax Regional Police are asking people walking on trails for ID to prove that they live in the neighborhood. They have no right to do that.
So far Halifax Regional Police (HRP) and RCMP are not pursuing the implementation of many of the recommendations called for in the Wortley report, a Freedom of Information request reveals.
Yesterday’s Taking Back the Streets with Joy was a celebration of African-Nova Scotian Youth and the Black Community. Judy Haiven reports.
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.
Racist street checks may have stopped, but overbearing police interactions with Black Haligonians continue.