Black Lives Matter protesters held a rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery Sunday afternoon to voice their support for victims of recent police violence in the United States.
“We’re just hoping to stand in solidarity with the folks who have lost their families in the U.S.,” Black Lives Matter Vancouver organizer Cicely Blain said. “We’ve been doing a lot of organizing around this, trying to combat police brutality and stand there for folks who are experiencing racialized violence in the U.S. and also in Canada.”
Blain said Vancouverites shouldn’t think their city is immune to the kind of racial tensions seen south of the border.
“We are very fortunate to live here in Vancouver. It’s a reasonably safe city and it’s a very privileged and good place to live – especially for black folks – but there are definitely instances of racism and racialized violence that do happen across Canada,” she said, adding that they also stand in solidarity with Canada’s First Nations.
“We want people in Canada to realize that this is a North American issue and not just an issue in the U.S.”
Organizers hope to raise funds at Sunday’s rally for the families affected the recent violence in the U.S.
Tensions between black citizens and police have risen palpably over the past week or so amid police shootings of African-American men in Minnesota and Louisiana and the gunning down of five white police officers by a black suspect in Dallas in apparent retaliation.
Authorities in Baton Rouge say more than 120 people were jailed in connection with the Black Lives Matter protests held in the Louisiana city over the weekend.
Earlier this month, Black Lives Matter protesters staged a sit-in at the Toronto Pride Parade to demand more rights for racialized communities.
Blain said they have no plans for Vancouver’s Pride Parade later this month, but they do plan to hold events around that time for queer people of colour. They will also serve as grand marshal of the Vancouver Dyke March on July 30.
“The Dyke March is committed to striving for inclusivity and accountability to all members and allies of our community and we are proud to have Black Lives Matter Vancouver leading the march with us this year,” march organizers said in a statement on Wednesday.
– With files from Monique Muise, The Canadian Press and The Associated Press