Interview with YourTV Niagara (Cogeco) on Police Reforms

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRUp4YbVIr8)

Interview on behalf of Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association

Anti-racism advocates remain hopeful for change in Niagara (Niagara This Week and St. Catharines Standard)

(https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/10160547-the-long-road-to-reform/ alternate version https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/2020/09/03/anti-racism-advocates-remain-hopeful-for-change-in-niagara.html)

Anti-racism advocates remain hopeful for change in Niagara

Much work remains to be done to end racism in Niagara, activists say

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By Luke EdwardsNiagara This Week

Thu., Sept. 3, 2020timer4 min. read

The tone was one of exasperation.

As members of the grassroots group Matter of Black met last week the topic quickly went to Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisc. To them, it was just another example of systemic racism.

It was also a reminder of how much work anti-racist advocates have in front of them. Not only in the U.S., but here in Niagara, where local efforts have been met with varying degrees of success.

“We’re seeing the very basic first steps. Change doesn’t happen overnight,” said Erica Williams, a Matter of Black member.

The group was formed to reinvigorate the regional Emancipation Day event, and works alongside BlackOwned905, which shines a light on businesses owned by Black people in Niagara.

Garden City politicians recently dealt with a motion that came through the city’s anti-racism committee that recommended 10 changes for Niagara Regional Police.

It passed after three recommendations were removed: body cams for police officers, police demilitarization and ending street checks. It was then included as correspondence to Niagara Region and the police services board in a separate motion brought to regional council by St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik. That motion called for a series of reports from the NRP and was passed, though anti-racism advocate Saleh Waziruddin said much of the information was already published.

Waziruddin, a member of the St. Catharines anti-racism committee as well as the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association, said he was frustrated with what he felt was politicians ignoring the comments of the Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC).

“Definitely there was a lot of resistance and just a lot of lack of listening,” he said.

An Indigenous man from Welland talked about being brutalized and racially insulted by police, but Waziruddin said he felt the man’s presentation was largely ignored by regional politicians who instead focused on the low number of complaints lodged against NRP officers. But with many people in the communities affected already distrustful of police, he said they’re not likely to come forward with complaints.

The Niagara anti-racism group is now setting its sights on the police services board, where Waziruddin said real change can happen. Members are planning a letter-writing campaign to convince board members to make changes.

“There’s a lot of activity going on still,” Waziruddin said. “There’s still a big opportunity for reform here in Niagara.”

Tamari Kitossa, associate professor of sociology at Brock University, cautioned that social movements take time, energy and money. In order for them to be successful, he said activists much continually recruit members who can bring fresh ideas and energy.

He also said advocates must learn from the past.

“They must, in fact, read history,” Kitossa said, adding that learning what worked and what didn’t work previously, can go a long way for current-day activists.

He also said supposed successes don’t always turn out that way. Kitossa used the work of Dudley Laws and the Black Action Defence Committee. The group formed in response to police shootings of Black men in Toronto and its work led to the creation of the Ontario Special Investigations Unit, which was supposed to provide more accountability.

Kitossa said the SIU has basically become “police investigating police.”

Though he’s cautious about this current movement’s ability to force real and lasting change, Kitossa said the local level is key, where activists can more easily access politicians and plead their case.

Siscoe doesn’t think the current movement is going to run out of steam before change is achieved.

“This is a bus that started rolling downhill and it’s not going to stop,” he said.

Waziruddin said the Niagara anti-racism group has formed partnerships with other groups including NEXTNiagara, the performing arts centre and Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre.

Williams said members must not focus solely on policing reforms, and that racism exists in all institutions.

Siscoe agreed. He said he’s committed himself in recent years to reading about the experiences of BIPOC, both in Canada and the U.S., and drew parallels between the experience of Black Americans and Indigenous people in Canada.

“We need to start making sure all public institutions reflect the community they serve,” he said.

The movement, he argued, requires buy-in from everyone.

“It’s not good enough to be not a racist, we have to be an anti-racist.”

Williams said the work starts in people’s inner circles.

“It’s that co-worker you know is being harassed but you say nothing,” she said.

Story Behind the Story – Months after the death of George Floyd spurred anti-racism protests around the world, reporter Luke Edwards checked in with local activists to see how their efforts are going, and how they keep the momentum up.

Clarification – Sept. 3, 2020: This story was updated to clarify the separate motions brought to St. Catharines and regional council.