Local Residents Join Global Fight Against Racism, Police Violence
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July 2, 2020 The Valley Voice 1 Volume 29, Number 13 July 2, 2020 Delivered to every home between Edgewood, Kaslo & South Slocan. Published bi-weekly. Your independently owned regional community newspaper serving the Arrow Lakes, Slocan & North Kootenay Lake Valleys. Local residents join global fight against racism, police violence by John Boivin, Local Journalism of solidary to the black community weeks, and are planning other special written by black and indigenous Nakusp Initiative reporter, with notes from on a Kaslo community Facebook programs, activities and events to people of colour for the local public The organizer of Nakusp’s anti- Kathy Hartman page, and there was quite a lot of highlight antiracism activities. library, and for the high school and racism rally thinks the event was a Chanting slogans and waving negative feedback,” said Margaret Some of the organizers are raising grade school libraries as well. real eye-opener for some people in placards, or walking in silence, Smith, one of the event organizers. money for a project called ‘SLIDE: They will be fundraising on the community. hundreds of residents from Nakusp, “There was also quite a lot of positive Support for Learning Inclusivity, Front Street on July 4 from 10 am to “With everything that’s been Kaslo and the Slocan Valley staged feedback, but some negative, too. Diversity and Empathy.’ The money 2 pm, or you can send a donation by going on in the States, and here in marches and rallies in June as part of “So a group of us got together they raise will be used to purchase e-transfer to slidebookfundraiser@ our own backyard, I felt Nakusp the worldwide protest against racism after that, saying let’s organize and a large selection of books that are gmail.com. continued on page 2 and police brutality. get together.” The protests were much smaller Demonstrators began by walking than many others across Canada down the town’s main street, and and around the world, organized ended up at Front Street Park. after Minneapolis police killed There they lit candles and knelt in George Floyd, a black man who was silence, honouring Floyd and others suspected of passing a fake $20 bill. who have lost their lives to police But the outrage and sadness violence. over systemic racism were just as But the demonstration, as strongly felt. successful as it was, was just the Kaslo beginning, says Smith. For eight minutes and 46 seconds “We want to continue to learn – the length of time it took George together and hold actions. Because Floyd to strangle under the knee of we realize it is an important thing a Minneapolis police officer – more to do in our community, to stand than 200 Kaslo residents remained in solidarity with marginalized silent. communities and find ways that are But the genesis of the June 19 relevant and impactful actions in our march and vigil was a much noisier community and beyond.” affair. Smith says the anti-racism group “Someone had posted a message is going to continue to meet every two Over 200 people showed up at Kaslo’s Black Lives Matter march on June 19. 2 NEWS The Valley Voice July 2, 2020 Local residents join global fight against racism, police violence continued from page 1 20 demonstration. “And I thought a local Facebook group, however, Law Nakusp, it is a small village, and it is racism against black people has was ready to have a discussion,” march would be a good start.” got a mixed response. somewhat in a bubble, so I want to caused and continues to cause in our said Jo Law, organizer of the June After posting about the plan on a “There were close to 200 make sure everyone is prepared that world,” said organizer Gabe Miller. comments, from ‘I’m so proud of if they leave they’ll have some tools “Antiracism is action!” my hometown,’” she says. ‘And then to recognize some patterns in others The demonstration stretched for there were – the others. The kind like and themselves.” half a block as it moved through the ‘all lives matter.’” The demonstrators gathered at the quiet streets to the village’s waterfront. But Law, a local businesswoman, marina, and moved down Broadway Some carried homemade signs, some wanted to reach out to everyone, so to a park gazebo where they heard pushed wheelchairs or baby strollers. she wasn’t “preaching to the choir,” calls to speak up against racism. It was an exuberant, diverse, and she says. Participants were invited to tell their peaceful crowd on a sunny Saturday As a woman of colour herself, own personal stories of race and in Slocan. Law has worked over the years to racism. A smudging ceremony was A moment of silence was held engage people in a discussion about also held to bless the event. at the recently opened Slocan Beach racism, but found many times people Law says she was floored by the Park, where some people took a knee just weren’t ready to listen. But with turnout for the demonstration. to complete the march. recent events, that’s changed. She says “I was pumped when the first “It’s not just the other side of the more people seem ready to tackle the five people showed up,” she says. border; Canada has a serious history troubling issue of race in our society. “And then they just kept coming. And of racism and hurt,” said Miller after “What I wanted to do is give coming. It was amazing. I’m so proud the march, explaining why she felt it people an opportunity to learn some of this community.” was important to organize the event. of the tools to deal with people that Since the rally, Law says she “White people have to listen.” may not be ready to listen, and warn feels a weight off her shoulders, that For demonstrator Luis Merez them of tactics I’ve seen patterned out the burden of calling out racism and Alvarez and his family, a resident in your experiences.” inequality, of engaging with people of Slocan and a recent immigrant She says it’s a conversation who oppose or don’t understand from Mexico, the protest had a deep Nakusp needs to have. the experience of minorities in the personal meeting. “It’s hard to be “I don’t feel hate here, but country, is being shared by more an immigrant. To leave everything what I did want to address is those people in Nakusp. behind, everyone you love, to start little off-the-shoulder, casual-racist “It’s not just not being racist, it’s fresh.” comments,” she says. “Being in actually practicing antiracism,” she Alvarez says he’s experienced says. “This is just the beginning.” discrimination and profiling People wanting to learn more personally. can visit the Anti-Racism Nakusp “You can get questioned any Facebook group and join the time by police just because you look conversation. different,” the carpenter said. “I’ve Slocan been ID’d many times. It feels unfair More than 100 people of all ages because I have not committed any carried signs and chanted the names crimes.” of black men and women victimized He said he found the show of by police as they walked down Harold support for the BLM movement Street in Slocan Village on June 6. comforting. The demonstrators gathered at “It’s nice to know, at least in noon at the village’s historic Swan this town where I came to look for House for the march. They met there a safe place to raise my family, raise “…in recognition and solidarity, to my children… that there are all these acknowledge the hurt and pain that people that’ll speak up,” he says. Jo Law leads Nakusp’s Black Lives Matter march on June 20. New Balance Blow Out Sale! 40% off select styles. Professional fitting, We are now open 9-5 Monday to Friday expert service. and 10-5 Saturday. www.vincedevito.com 411 Hall Street • Nelson, BC • 250-352-6261 www.facebook.com/ pages/Vince-DeVitos- • Toll-free: 1-800-337-1622 Specialty-Footwear-LTD July 2, 2020 The Valley Voice NEWS 3 West Kootenay woman dies in motorcycle accident near Kaslo IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT by John Boivin, Local Journalism Initiative the RCMP, RCMP Air Services, and the BC reporter Ambulance Service. After two days of working in a fast-moving West Kootenay Traffic Services is leading FROM MOUNTAIN VALLEY STATION river, Search and Rescue crews found the body of the investigation and is being assisted by the a woman who went missing after a motorcycle Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service. accident on Highway 31A on June 21. Police said at the time that it does not appear BOTTLE DEPOT Police say the woman was a passenger on a that impairment was a contributing factor to motorcycle on Sunday, June 21, when the driver this crash. ATTENTION! ATTENTION! of the vehicle lost control. The motorcycle left Anyone with information about this event, the highway and entered the river about 15-20 including any dash camera footage, is asked to kilometres west of Kaslo. contact WKTS in Nelson at 250-250-354-5180. THE ENCORP FLYER THAT WAS The man, in his 70s and from the West Perry Siding man drowns in Kootenay area, was able to swim ashore and drag kayaking mishap himself up to the highway where he flagged down by John Boivin, Local Journalism Initiative CIRCULATED RECENTLY IS a passing motorist for help. reporter “The man was taken to an area hospital for A Slocan Valley man drowned last month 3 YEARS OLD AND INCORRECT.