‘Let this moment radicalize you:’ Rally held in Regina for Black Lives Matter movement

Standing at the foot of the steps leading up the legislative building at noon on Tuesday, nearly all that could be seen in any direction were people, masks on their faces, chanting.

They all showed up to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the death while in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and the protests — some violent — that have happened since.

Hundreds of people at the legislature today, protesting for solidarity with those in the US and black lives matter pic.twitter.com/7pxWQb2LqP

— Lisa Schick (@LMSchickler) June 2, 2020

“I hate the fact that I have to be organizing. I would love to live in a world where I could sit on a beach and just, like, chill. But I have to do things like this,” Ker, one of the organizers, said as she spoke to the crowd. “And we have to ask ourselves why. If you don’t have to do this for your life, you’re very privileged.”

Ker said the gathering was meant to show those going through the problems caused by systemic racism, especially in the U.S., that the crowd is with them and their experiences are the same.

“Sometimes the Canadian experience doesn’t look like how it looks like out there,” Ker said. “There’s a very different type of racism here, but it still exists.”

She said they’re sending love, but also anger.

People at a Black Lives Matter rally kneel in front of the legislature as the names of people of colour who’ve been killed by police are read out on June 2, 2020. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

“We often discredit anger and think of it as a negative emotion but anger can be righteous, anger can be meaningful and this is why folks are coming together to project their anger and hopefully that is a driver of change,” she said.

The massive gathering came together in only two days. Ker said organizers started making calls at midday on Sunday. She said she’s grateful for the allies to the cause in Regina.

“A movement like this, it makes you super emotional. I’ve been crying and laughing all over the place because, I think, sometimes in sadness (as) in joy. When you realize people care it’s absolutely humbling and amazing and beautiful,” said Ker.

Talking about the violence against black people happening in the U.S. and in parts of Canada as well, Ker said it’s painful and really hard to deal with.

“I’m avoiding social media right now,” she said. “It’s so difficult; it’s so hard to process.”

For those who participated in the rally and those who will only hear about it, Ker had a message.

“Let this moment radicalize you,” she said. “Read up. There’s resources, read up. There’s free resources online, there’s resources in libraries. Read up, let this moment be a point of no return, may we never go back, may this be the last of such a meeting.”

The crowds

Many of the people at the rally were holding up signs saying things like “black lives matter” and “my skin is not a sin.”

They talked about showing up because they want to show their support.

Hundreds gather in front of the legislative building to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement on June 2, 2020. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

Two teenage girls said they were disgusted by what they saw happening in the U.S. and as Muslims it hits close to home.

“There’s a lot of things that we’ve seen on apps like Tik Tok about people (telling) their stories and it’s just too depressing to not support someone,” one of them said, and then her friend chimed in.

“And like people say, silence is violence. Like, why would you sit at home saying you support a cause and not try to make a difference about it?” she said.

One woman said she came to show solidarity but also to see that she’s in a community that cares.

“I’m leaving sad, but in a happy way that there’s so many people here and who joined their voices with ours to say black lives matter,” she explained, tearing up by the end.

One man with two little girls hanging off his arms said racism is a problem in Canada too.

“This shows that people can all come together, you know what I mean?” he said. “There doesn’t have to be racism or hatred or nothing.”

Many people headed up to the microphone in the rally to speak their mind and share their feelings.

Speaker of the legislative assembly Mark Docherty spoke, saying racism of any kind isn’t right but seeing so many people out at the rally gave him hope.

Health and safety

The rally organizers were keenly aware that hundreds of people were gathering in the middle of a pandemic.

The flyer for the event encouraged people to bring gloves, masks and sanitizer but they were also being provided for anyone who didn’t have any. And announcements were made frequently to remind people to physically distance and volunteers were reminding people as well.

Premier Moe

In a news conference later in the afternoon, Premier Scott Moe called the rally “a peaceful demonstration in support of tolerance, against racial injustice, and to make the clear statement that black lives matter.”

Moe said he has been deeply disturbed by the events in the U.S. and horrified by the killing of Floyd.

“It’s disturbing to see the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters,” Moe said. “And it’s disturbing to see some of these protests used as a pretense for violence, for vandalism and for looting.”

When asked why he wasn’t at the rally, Moe said he was travelling from his home in northern Saskatchewan to Regina with a stop in Saskatoon. He said he would consider attending one of the other rallies planned.

Moe said we should take every opportunity to speak out against racism, but emphasized he thinks it should be done peacefully and lawfully. He then turned his comments to the person who spray painted the war memorial at the legislature with the words “Justice for Floyd #BLM”.

Peaceful protest is always welcome at our Legislature, such as the rally taking place later this morning against racial injustice.

Vandalism is not acceptable. Last night, the War Memorial near @SKLegAssembly was vandalized. This is outrageous. pic.twitter.com/Q1y7OiKTI6

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) June 2, 2020

“I’m heartened by the fact that that disgraceful act was done, quite likely, by one individual, meanwhile we had hundreds at the peaceful demonstration in front of the legislature.”

The organizers addressed the vandalism at the beginning of the rally, saying it wasn’t done by them and they don’t support it.

Floyd’s death has prompted many online statements condemning the actions of the Minneapolis police and preaching diversity. That included the Regina Police Service and the Saskatoon Police Service, which both offered up their thoughts in tweets.