Interview on CKTB 610AM with Tim Denis on removing the Watson Statue from St. Catharines City Hall

 Interview on behalf of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association with Tim Denis of CKTB 610AM on removing the Watson Statue from St. Catharines City Hall

https://24173.mc.tritondigital.com/OMNY_NEWSTALK610_NIAGARAINTHEMORNINGWITHTIMDENIS_P/media-session/d810734c-0cf0-4766-9126-c3193dc34691/d/clips/4809bc8a-e41a-405c-93da-a8cf011df2f4/a9d6d364-a8cb-44f1-b837-aa14010af355/a4ce2020-ce9c-4262-b5a8-ac0700da0ad2/audio/direct/t1596030546/Calls_For_Watson_Statue_to_be_Removed.mp3?t=1596030546&in_playlist=4d623dae-499c-42e9-9fb8-aa23011e8ec2&utm_source=Podcast

CHCH TV interview on removal of Watson Statue from St. Catharines City Hall

 https://www.chch.com/anti-racism-group-is-calling-for-the-removal-of-a-statue/

Letter to St. Catharines Mayor and Council on Removing Watson Statue Permenantly

Letter from the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association to the City of St. Catharines Mayor and City Council calling for the Watson Statue to be permanently removed from City Hall in the wake of backlash to preserve it:

Dear Mayor and Councillors. 

The statue of Private Alexander Watson is ultimately a symbol of identification with white and Anglophone supremacy and militarism and therefore has no place anywhere other than the dust bin of history. It should not be relocated but should be disposed of and destroyed. Any heritage value of the statue is tainted by the living heritage of racism, and to overlook this is to overlook the systemic inequity that the North-West Rebellion's defeat brought forward, which Private Watson died contributing to. 

The defeat of the Metis and First Nations in the North-West Rebellion reverberated across Canada and was a high water mark in establishing not only white and Anglophone supremacy but specifically the systematic oppression of Canada's Indigenous peoples that served as the model for Apartheid in South Africa and elsewhere, such as the Pass System. It was not just an obscure conflict in a land far away. Chief Poundmaker said that after the Rebellion "[being] Indian was like being in a cage.” 

Any claim that the statue has long been part of our heritage or has come to symbolize war veterans in general should recognize that this heritage has been one of on-going genocide of the Indigenous, and a symbol of militarism because it celebrates and promotes war in general under the cover of sympathy for veterans who needlessly suffered in senseless slaughters for empire. 

Signed, 

Saleh Waziruddin 

Erika Smith 

Marcel Stewart 

for the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association

CHCH Interview on Lack of Progress on Racism with Niagara Regional Police Service

 TV coverage from CHCH on the lack of progress on racism by the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) https://www.chch.com/niagaras-anti-racism-committee-voices-frustration-over-lack-of-progress-with-niagara-police/ 

Anti-racism activist says special meeting with police just a ‘PR exercise’ if it doesn’t produce real change (St. Catharines Standard)

(https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/2020/07/24/anti-racism-activist-says-special-meeting-with-police-just-a-pr-exercise-if-it-doesnt-produce-real-change.html)

Anti-racism activist says special meeting with police just a ‘PR exercise’ if it doesn’t produce real change

By Bill SawchukStandard Reporter

Fri., July 24, 2020timer3 min. read

For Saleh Waziruddin of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association, Thursday’s special Regional Council meeting with the police represents a missed opportunity.

The councillors called the meeting to discuss St. Catharines Mayor Walker Senzik’s motion to combat racism in law enforcement — and invited the police and the public to participate.

“This is not real reform but a public relations opportunity for the Niagara Regional Police to say what it is already doing, not what steps it will take for reform or even acknowledge the need for reforms,” said Waziruddin, a presenter at the meeting.

Sendzik’s motion had eight action points asking for reports on cultural sensitivity training and de-escalation techniques, the public complaint process and the impact on policing of a zero per cent budget.

Waziruddin said Sendzik’s motion was, at best, asking the NRP to do what it already does — or at worse, asking for even less.

Waziruddin called on the police to make “actual reforms,” including an end to street checks, which Niagara Regional Police Chief Bryan MacCulloch said had dwindled to almost zero.

“This is easy to do,” Waziruddin said. “Instead, Regional Council only ‘continued the conversation,’ which is just a public relations exercise for the NRPS if it does not result in any action in the near future.”

Waziruddin said that while MacCulloch acknowledged that systemic racism existed in the institution of policing, he stopped short of acknowledging it exists in the NRP.

Waziruddin said the “stubborn refusal to admit to something very basic” is messaging that denies the NRP has any connection to the need for police reforms elsewhere.

“Programs described by the chief for diversity tours and community relations are nice, but are ultimately about public relations,” Waziruddin said.

In an interview Friday after the meeting, MacCulloch said he and the NRP remain as committed as ever to a culture of diversity and inclusion within our service.

“We are often compared to the U.S. where there aren’t the oversight mechanisms in place here,” MacCulloch said. “That oversight is essential. It assures members of our community that our officers will be held accountable. They are held to very high standards.

“That does not exist in the U.S., and it is something many are fighting for there. There are 18,000 police services in the U.S. and 140 in Canada. There is much greater consistency here in training, policy, and oversight.”

MacCulloch said the senior leadership team is committed to undertaking a review of all NRP policies for systemic racism.

“We know systemic racism can manifest itself in policies and procedures that may be neutral, but in reality can disadvantage marginalized members in society. That’s our commitment to the public and our community. We will undertake that review.”

Karl Dockstader of Niagara and Kerry Goring of St. Catharines told the meeting of visceral fear when interacting with police.

Dockstader described long-standing issues stretching back into his family history, including the police helping remove his grandmother, who was eight, for shipment to a residential school.

Goring related the experience of being stopped five times in three months for “driving while black” and the talk she had to have with her son about the dangers of interacting with the police.

“I want them to understand our officers are here to police the entire community, and they are committed, empathetic, and professional.

“Members of the public need not be afraid of approaching our officers,” MacCulloch said. “At the same time, I understand that everyone comes from different experiences and different backgrounds.

“It is in our best interest to deliver unbiased policing. The only way we can be effective is if we have public confidence.”

MacCulloch called the times “unprecedented” for policing.

“I can’t say enough about the men and women of the organization, both sworn and civilian,” he said. “We are in a pandemic, and they have stepped up and continued to provide policing services to our community in the most professional and responsible way.

“Despite criticism and being vilified in the media, what’s important is that we are different from our compatriots in the U.S.”

Bill Sawchuk is a St. Catharines-based reporter with the Standard. Reach him via email: william.sawchuk@niagaradailies.com

Speech to Niagara Regional Council on Police Reform on Behalf of Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association

Speech as Delegation from Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association to Niagara Regional Council on Police Reforms

Police body cameras and ‘defunding’ recommended by St. Catharines anti-racism committee (St. Catharines Standard)

(https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/2020/07/16/police-body-cameras-and-defunding-recommended-by-st-catharines-anti-racism-committee.html)

Police body cameras and ‘defunding’ recommended by St. Catharines anti-racism committee

Anti-racism committee presents extensive police reforms to city council

By Karena WalterStandard Reporter

Thu., July 16, 2020timer3 min. read

The St. Catharines anti-racism advisory committee is recommending money in the Niagara Regional Police budget be reallocated to a civilian service to deal with mental health, suicide and welfare check calls.

The “defunding” of the police service, along with outfitting body cameras on officers and providing more crisis intervention training, was among several police reform recommendations presented to St. Catharines city council.

“Your residents want to see you move this forward,” Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the anti-racism advisory committee, told councillors during their online video meeting Monday.

The citizen committee was asked by city council in June what it thought of body cameras for police and if it had other ideas for police reform.

Waziruddin said the committee heard from residents who gave oral and written delegations on the issue. It also had conversations with Niagara Regional Police and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Members then came up with a list of recommendations for city council to take to Niagara Region, which oversees the police budget through the police services board. The recommendations fall into 10 categories ranging from de-militarization to hiring practices.

Waziruddin said the “defunding” recommendation may be unnecessarily controversial.

The committee is suggesting the police chief and board re-assess the financial requirements for adequate policing based on removing welfare checks, mental health and suicide threat calls, as well as foot patrols that are demanded because of perception.

The police would bring the reduced budget to Niagara Region which would shift the eliminated funds to a dispatched civilian service, such as Niagara Emergency Medical Services, to respond to those calls.

Waziruddin said 11 per cent of NRP’s 2018 calls were for welfare checks, mental health or suicide threats that he said don’t need an armed response.

“The fact is even the police services board is saying don’t look at the police to solve social problems, fund civilian services instead,” he said.

He said residents have a right to say they want those three kinds of calls outside of policing.

“It’s not really that controversial or strange to have the reallocation of funds. It brings together what’s been discussed over the last few years.”

The committee also recommended the service implement body cameras for all front-line officers as soon as possible.

Waziruddin said cameras aren’t being asked for because the committee believes they will reduce disproportionate violence but are an extra tool that can provide footage if an incident does happen.

St. Patrick’s Coun. Mat Siscoe, who made the original motion at council asking for body cameras, said a conversation needs to happen at the region to try and reform police, recognizing the need for increased funding in other areas of service.

“If we want better outcomes for everybody in our community, if we want everybody to feel like a part of the community, it can’t simply just be a first resort and a last resort to always send the police to every call,” Siscoe said.

City council voted 7-5 to defer sending the recommendations to the Region, as it wants to hear thoughts from the chief of police first. He’ll be invited to come to the next council meeting.

The anti-racism committee’s other recommendations include that the service sell its armoured vehicle and ban the use of tear gas, pepper spray or other chemical agents against protestors or at demonstrations.

It also wants an end to street checks, saying the practice involves racial discrimination.

The committee wants officers to receive more training, including anti-bias or anti-racism training, and wants the service to increase diversity hiring to at least 15 per cent of the recruiting class over three years.

It’s also asking that a civilian body be established with oversight and disciplinary powers over police and that more statistics on hate crimes and use of force by race be published for transparency.

Karena Walter is a St. Catharines-based reporter, primarily covering City Hall for the Standard. Reach her via email: karena.walter@niagaradailies.com