Speech to Niagara Regional Council on their Anti-Palestinian Racism in not Lighting "Niagara" Sign in Palestine Colours

My speech to #Niagara Regional Council on March 21, 2024 on why it's anti-Palestinian #racism to not follow their own policy to honour requests by over 96 residents from across the region to light the "Niagara everyone welcome" sign in the colours of #Palestine as they did for Israel

On my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JZknXVMDBw

Part of my YouTube playlist on this issue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HWtB-_DqEw&list=PLT3GGuhZmHJ1mNyYi3yFam-yNdHGz5klm

My name is Saleh Waziruddin.

At your Corporate Services Committee meeting staff said the reason the Niagara sign could not be lit in the colours of the Palestinian flag is because the Palestinian flag could not be raised under the current policy. But one thing has nothing to do with the other. The “Flag Raising and Niagara Sign Lighting Policy” has a completely different section for requirements for lighting the Niagara sign and the rule about flags needing to be from countries recognized by the Government of Canada is only in the flag raising section, completely different. This is like asking “how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?”

So your current policy allows you to do this. It can be done administratively from the Chair, as was done earlier for the colours of the Israeli flag, you don't even need a motion. The Chair can just as easily ask tonight for the Niagara sign to be lit in the Palestinian colours for tomorrow night. If it can be speedily done for one set of colours it can be just as speedily done for the other colours.

You can't say it's divisive to light in the colours of one side of a conflcit but it's not divisive to light in the colours of Israel. But it's not only lighting the Niagara sign. One of the councillors here, as mayor of the City I live in, already has my City, St. Catharines, take a clear side, when he sent my own ward councillor from City Council, on October 11, to speak in the name of my City as standing with Israel.

So if you don't want to light the Niagara sign in the colours of the Palestinian flag because it would take a side, it's too late for that. The Region has already stepped deep into taking one side. It would be one-sided not to do the same for the other side.

There is only one reason for the reluctance to light the Niagara sign in the colours of Palestine. It is because some see Palestinians as dangerous, and see Palestinian resistance to occupation, something recognized as a legitimate right implicitly in the Geneva Conventions, as terrorism in one-sided war propaganda that has been widely debunked. This is seen even in radio comments on CKTB 610 made by one of you comparing by allusion people like me to the January 6 capitol rioters, that's how much unreasonable fear there is here of anything to do with support for Palestine.

This is racism. It's a specific kind of racism, anti-Palestinian racism. This isn't just something I'm saying or making up, it was recognized in a featured piece on CBC radio. It's not the same as Islamophobia or anti-Arab racism in general, and it is expressed in the general crackdown and vilification of Palestine solidarity we are seeing across the country and right here in Niagara.

If it's seen as divisive to even discuss a request that is perfectly allowed under the current policy discussed in the minutes, then that is truly ironic because look at the division that's been created by not allowing delegates to speak in January and to even pull the discussion from the agenda and then double down by killing any discussion on pulling it from the agenda. Look at the division caused by people who are equally residents of this community being shut out. You can't alienate us in the name of not alienating people, because we are people too!, saying you have to get along with both sides when not only has the Region and at least one municipality taken a side but it won't even listen to the other side.

The request to light the Niagara sign in the colours of Palestine, fully in accordance with the current lighting policy, comes from a wide range of residents. Ninety six people have sent all 32 of you letters by email from nine of the twelve municipalities in the Region, so people directly represented by the majority of you are asking for this. We do not feel heard or supported.

It's not even something that would make Niagara an outlier or out of step. Edmonton lit their symbol in the colours of the Palestinian flag months ago. Niagara should catch up.

To show that you value human life as human life, when you have shown this for lives lost on one side of the conflict, but not to show you value the many more human lives that have been lost by Palestinians, when your own policy allows it, and when the Chair's actions have demonstrated that this can be swiftly done without the need for a motion, will leave people no choice but to see your decision as an unfair and unequal implementation of your own lighting policy, as just a little bit racist. It's the opposite of what the Region's policy calls for, celebrating diversity and inclusivity.

With reference to what was said just before I started speaking, everyone does not feel heard or supported.

Thank you.

Niagara's new police chief outlines priorities, responds to community concerns about systemic racism (CBC Hamilton)

(from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/bill-fordy-new-chief-1.7115159)

Bill Fordy became chief of the Niagara Regional Police Service late last month

Justin Chandler · CBC News · Posted: Feb 18, 2024 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: February 18

Every interaction a police officer has with a member of the public is "an opportunity to build a relationship with the community," Niagara's new police chief Bill Fordy says. 

To further build trust in the region, Fordy added that police need to be "open and honest" about sharing information, and acknowledge "if and when we make a mistake."

According to a local anti-racism group, Fordy and the police service as a whole, have work to do if they want marginalized people to trust them  — particularly when it comes to tackling systemic racism.

Fordy called out for 2020 comments on systemic racism 

Fordy became NRPS's deputy chief in 2017 after working in British Columbia for about 30 years. He took over from outgoing chief Bryan MacCulloch late last month. 

Niagara police have over 1,000 people on staff, and a $190.5-million budget for 2024. 

After the police board announced Fordy's appointment, the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association (NRARA) issued a media release denouncing it alongside Erica's Embrace Support Services, another anti-racism organization. They criticized Fordy for a 2020 radio interview in which he said there was no data to suggest systemic racism was present within the Niagara police. 

Advocates including Saleh Waziruddin, an NRARA executive committee member, have said that comment ignored the force's own data which shows police used force against Black people at a disproportionate rate. In 2022, the reporting showed about 23 per cent of use of force incidents were against people officers perceived to be Black. The report notes 2021 census data shows about three per cent of people in the region are Black.  

Fordy told CBC Hamilton that since 2020, he's acknowledged "both inside and outside our police service, on numerous occasions, that within the institution of policing, inclusive of the Niagara Regional Police Service, there are systemic barriers that exist."

"There are systemic barriers that other people face that I haven't faced as a white male. So I openly acknowledge that that's a reality of today's world," he said. "Those discussions we had in 2020 certainly were a foundation for a great learning opportunity for me and as we look forward, I look to our organization to become more diverse and more reflective of the community we serve." 

Waziruddin said it sounds like Fordy has acknowledged barriers faced by police officers within the institution, "but I don't think that covers the racism of the police towards the rest of us."

"The magic words would be: 'There is systemic racism in the Niagara Regional Police Service.' That's the first step that Fordy can take," he said.

Advocates call for tangible police reforms 

As for how the police can address racism, Fordy said "all organizations need to continue to learn and need to continue to build bridges with equity-deserving groups."

He added that he thinks the NRPS is becoming more diverse. "We're looking inward to identify those barriers for equity deserving members, to try to eliminate those."

The NRARA has pointed to a number of recommendations they say police could implement to reduce racism including having officers wear body cameras, improving training and shifting some mental-health related calls to a civilian service. 

"Something's either anti-racism or it's public relations and the way you can tell the difference is if it's anti-racism, it actually has actions and resources and change," Waziruddin said. 

In an email, CBC Hamilton asked Fordy if the NRPS has implemented any of those recommendations, or plans to. 

Fordy said the service continues to have "fulsome conversations with members who represent all of Niagara along with continuous education on how to build upon and improve existing relationships."

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Chief says police could more effectively work with social service providers 

Fordy said he thinks there's room to "more effectively" work with social service providers. He noted that often, police are the first to respond to calls when people are in distress. 

"As we look forward, my hope is that we'll be able to engage professionals so that people get the support they need and ultimately the police don't have to be a part of those interactions."

He said he would "love" for there to be an organization that could respond to calls for help that don't involve criminality and would work with governments and other agencies "to arrive there at some point."

Challenges ahead

As CBC Hamilton recently reported, experts say that because Niagara is on the Canada-United States border and accessible by various ports, it's a target for transnational crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking.

Fordy said policing international crime is a challenge that has required the NRPS to partner with provincial and federal agencies to share information and techniques. 

"We're looking to enhance our effectiveness in all those areas, whether it be human trafficking, car thefts, fraud, [which] we didn't investigate maybe in the same manner 15 or 20 years ago."

• Police budget increases may not reduce crime rates in Canadian cities, research indicates

• Anti-racism advocates call for 'immediate action' amid disparities in Hamilton police use of force data

But Fordy says one of his first priorities as chief is close to home: the wellbeing of his own workers. He said the pandemic exhausted police officers and he wants to make sure they have access to tools supporting their wellbeing. 

"My number one priority is to make sure our people are good so that we can take care of the community and serve the community in a way that I would want my family or friends served."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justin Chandler

Reporter

Justin Chandler is CBC News reporter in Hamilton. He covers all sorts of stories but has a special interest in how public policy affects people. Justin covered current affairs in Hamilton and Niagara for TVO, and has worked on a variety of CBC teams and programs, including As It Happens, Day 6 and CBC Music. He co-hosted Radio Free Krypton on Met Radio. You can email story ideas to justin.chandler(at)cbc(dot)ca.

The Ballot Vox (The Pointer Podcast) #89 - Niagara reacts to new police chief

 (from https://www.buzzsprout.com/1845983/14447845-89-niagara-reacts-to-new-police-chief)\

Anti-racism association denounces choice of new NRP chief (St. Catharines Standard)

(from https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/anti-racism-association-denounces-choice-of-new-nrp-chief/article_b8a6f7a3-03d4-5a49-a9f7-140db9ba6245.html)

Bill Fordy says his 2020 comments made about systemic racism in policing were made during "a snapshot of time" during unrest after murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police

ByBill SawchukReporter

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

2 min to read

Article was updated Feb 4, 2024

Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association (NRARA) wasted little time Tuesday in denouncing the appointment of the new chief of Niagara Regional Police, Bill Fordy, for publicly denying systemic racism exists within its ranks in remarks to the media four years ago.

The police services board announced its pick for chief on Monday. Fordy officially takes the reins on Thursday.

Fordy, then a deputy, said in a television interview in 2020 that he didn't "believe systemic racism exists today in the Niagara Regional Police."

Tuesday, Fordy responded to NRAHA denouncing him as the choice for chief by saying his comments were made during "a snapshot of time" as the men and women in uniform did their best daily to serve and protect citizens during the fallout and unrest after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 20, 2020.

"In fairness, that specific quote was taken out of context when considering the broader discussion occurring during the interview," Fordy said in an emailed statement. "In the same interview, I did acknowledge that systemic racism existed broadly within our society and our institutions."

Fordy said he has since acknowledged, on numerous occasions, that systemic barriers within the institution of policing exist and that he had privileges that others have not as a white male.

"We are all on a continuous journey of personal reflection and growth, and as a service, we are committed to serving and protecting all members of our community and enhancing relationships," Fordy said.

Fordy also released an open letter to the public on July 9, 2020, in which he said changes in policing need to be "evidence-based, not coming from a place of emotion."

Saleh Waziruddin and Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association are denouncing the appointment of the new Niagara Regional Police chief, Bill Fordy, for publicly denying systemic racism exists within its ranks during comments made to a TV station two years ago.

Julie Jocsak St. Catharines Standard file photo

Saleh Waziruddin, a member of the NRARA executive committee, takes issue with that statement, saying evidence shows racial profiling — now called the collection of identifying information — exists within the NRP.

In 2021, the Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security defined racial profiling as an example of systemic racism where police, consciously or unconsciously, apply stereotypes about racial groups when deciding whom to stop, detain, arrest, charge or otherwise subject to policing.

Waziruddin said in 2017 13 per cent of individuals stopped by the NRP were Black, even though as a group they made up two per cent of the Niagara's population. In 2018, one-third of individuals stopped were Indigenous, even though they comprised four per cent of the population.

Fordy replied, with regard to race-based data, "It's important to note that population statistics do not take into account the influx of tourists and international students who visit the Niagara region on an annual basis." 

NRARA also took the opportunity to denounce police services board member Kevin Gibson, a former Wainfleet mayor and former RCMP officer, for comments he made during a Niagara Region council meeting on Aug. 13, 2020, when the association said he denigrated systemic racism as a “shadowy area” that gets “bandied about.”

Gibson didn't respond to a request for an interview.

Bill Sawchuk

 is a reporter with the St. Catharines Standard.

Appointment of new Niagara Police Chief Bill Fordy draws support and some criticism (The Pointer)

https://thepointer.com/article/2024-01-31/appointment-of-new-niagara-police-chief-bill-fordy-draws-support-and-some-criticism 

By Dean Iorfida - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Jan 31, 2024 - Niagara

The Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board has promoted from within, appointing Bill Fordy as the new Chief of Police for the Niagara Regional Police Service, the tenth Chief in the service’s 53 year history.  Fordy, who replaces retiring Chief Bryan MacCulloch, has served with the NRPS as Deputy Chief of Police since September 2017.

Jen Lawson, Chair of the Niagara PSB announced the hiring Monday morning: “[C]hief-Designate Fordy has a wide breadth and depth of experience in his 35-year-long career with the NRPS and RCMP (he was in charge of the national force’s Surrey, B.C. department and was later promoted). He has held key leadership positions within both policing agencies and prior to joining the NRPS as Deputy Chief, was the RCMP Assistant Commissioner overseeing all operational and administrative matters of policing in the Lower Mainland District (LMD) of British Columbia. He has overseen complex policing matters and substantial budgets at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.”

Chief-Designate Fordy’s budget experience will be tested, if the process to establish the force’s financial plan for 2024 is any example.

This past October, Niagara’s PSB approved a 7.1 percent increase to the service’s 2024 budget, amounting to a net budget expenditure of approximately $190.5 million. Included in the proposed budget was the hiring of an additional 40 staff members, including 20 frontline officers.

The proposed increase, which would have had a 2.8 percent impact on the Region’s overall budget, was too rich for Regional Council when they met the following month. Regional Chair Jim Bradley questioned some of the proposed new positions characterizing them as “more nice to haves, than essentially needed”.

Police budgets across Ontario, and Canada, have received heightened scrutiny over the past few years after decades of being rubber stamped in most cases, by elected local officials who often accepted the numbers presented by senior police brass as gospel.

Concerns around funding of police and what communities have received in return, to protect them and keep residents safe, have mounted in recent years. Canadian research has shown little correlation between investing in frontline police staff and a decrease in crime.

Questions have also been raised about how funds could be better spent, rather than unsustainable increases that largely go to salaries, overtime and benefits or additional staff. Funding partnerships that allow mental health professionals to work with frontline police officers and investments to address areas of crime that are rapidly growing, such as internet child exploitation, have been called for by taxpayers who are increasingly involved in public safety issues, which are becoming more complex.

With its budget sent back, the retiring Niagara Chief proposed various mitigation measures that resulted in approximately $2 million in cuts to the proposed 2024 budget, trimming the budget increase from 7.1 percent to 6 percent, which was ultimately accepted by Regional Council.    

Included in the cuts were six positions that would reduce the budget impact from anywhere between approximately $96,000 to $239,000, depending on the position. All of the proposed positions, an Inspector Investigative Support position, an IT Equipment Support Technician, a Visual Content Creator, a Digital Evidence Management System Clerk, an Enterprise Project Coordinator and a Crime Analysis Supervisor, are expected to be up for budget consideration in 2025.

Noted in the PSB announcement were Fordy’s accomplishments in the field of police interviewing techniques. He drew national attention for conducting an 11-hour interrogation after the arrest of Robert Pickton, the B.C. pig farmer, who would eventually be convicted of second-degree murder of six women and suspected of murdering others.  

Since coming to Niagara, Fordy has facilitated the development of two Strategic Plans, a Mental Health Strategy and Diversity Plan for officers, championed the creation of the Corporate Strategy and Innovation office and enhanced relationships with the Niagara Region Police Association (NRPA), the labour organization representing uniform and civilian members of the service.

 

The new police chief will be responsible for a force tasked with combatting increasingly complex crime in Niagara Region including human trafficking, increasing gang activity and other forms of violent crime. 

(Abigail Chen/Unsplash)

 

Patrick McGilly, President of of the Niagara Region Police Association (the force’s union), took to the social media platform X after the PSB announcement:

“[B]ill will be a great leader to continue the excellence and add a new legacy to the Service. We are looking forward to a continued relationship that fosters collaboration and respect.”

Not all of the reaction was positive, however, as the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association (NRARA) issued a media release denouncing the appointment.  

In 2020, Deputy Chief Fordy came under fire from the organization when he penned an open letter noting he had witnessed “disrespect to police officers across the country”, with many being stereotyped based on the actions of a few. Fordy, in a local radio interview, also suggested systematic racism in the NRPS was not an issue.

At the time, Erika Smith, an activist with NRARA, challenged Fordy’s comments:

“[Y]ou (Fordy) have expressed your dislike towards the disrespect of police officers across the country but not why the disrespect exists.”

The NRARA indicated Fordy and Smith did have a conversation, but the organization recently voiced its concern over the appointment.

Saleh Waziruddin, a member of the NRARA executive committee, said “[W]hen he was Deputy Chief Bill Fordy said ‘we have no data to suggest that’ there is systemic racism in the Niagara Police, but their own data showed that when they did racial profiling, now called Collection Of Identifying Information, in 2017, 13 percent of those stopped were Black (just 2 percent of the population then), and in 2018, one-third were Indigenous (just 4 percent of the population), yielding zero arrests (2018).” 

Chief-Designate Fordy provided a response to The Pointer:

“Those comments were made in a snapshot of time, where I was defending the brave men and women who, on a daily basis, continued to try to serve and protect citizens across our country, during an emotional time of unrest following the horrific murder of George Floyd in the United States. 

At the time, I said that there was no evidence to suggest the existence of systemic racism within the Niagara Regional Police Service.

In fairness, that specific quote was taken out of context when considering the broader discussion that occurred during the interview. In the same interview, I did acknowledge that systemic racism existed broadly within our society and our institutions.

During my journey of self-reflection, I have since acknowledged both inside and outside our police service, on numerous occasions, that within the institution of policing, there are systemic barriers that exist, and that I have had privileges that others have not, simply by being a White male.

We are all on a continuous journey of personal reflection and growth, and as a Service, we are committed to serving and protecting all members of our community and enhancing relationships.”

An analysis of recent policing data might show what has contributed to the over-representation of some visible minority and Indigenous groups in the Niagara force’s statistics. 

Fordy was in charge of policing for the RCMP in Surrey, B.C., one of the country’s most diverse municipalities, and received widespread support from groups who applauded his work in a range of communities, which led to being put in charge of the province’s entire lower mainland, one of Canada’s largest and most diverse policing jurisdictions. 

Chief Bryan MacCullough announced his retirement this past July. He began his career with the NRPS in 1984 and had been Chief since September 2017.  Fordy takes over on February 1, MacCullough’s retirement date, though the swearing in for the Chief-Designate will take place at a date and time still to be announced.

Monday’s news release indicated the Police Board had “actively engaged in succession planning to ensure the highest quality of the Executive Command.”  Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson was engaged to conduct an internal search “for the ideal candidate”.

With the Chief of Police vacancy now filled, the PSB and Odgers Berndtson will have to begin the selection process to fill two Deputy Chief positions. In addition to the vacancy left by Fordy’s promotion, Deputy Chief Brett Flynn is also retiring on February 1 after serving with the NRPS since 1990. The PSB hopes to have the deputy positions filled by March.

 

Niagara Region Council Blocked #Palestine #Ceasefire Motion

Niagara Region Council Blocked #Palestine #Ceasefire Motion From Agenda - and Even Blocked Any Debate on Removing it! 

The Delegate Speeches That Were Blocked Are Being Uploaded to

YouTube Playlist:

https://shorturl.at/SY158

Please Keep Checking Back For More Videos

Hypocrisy + Double Standards = Anti-Palestinian Racism by Niagara Elected Officials

Several #Niagara Region Councillors say tonight's resolution in support of Palestine has no place because it's outside the Region's mandate or will be divisive and harmful. 

But the Region already supported Israel and Ukraine, yet Palestine support is out. 

This is a double standard and hypocrisy that can only be explained as racist. 

Two of these Councillors have been outspoken against racism but like so many humanitarian concern ends sharply when it comes to Palestinians.

Lincoln Councillor Rob Foster told the St. Catharines Standard that the Region shouldn't be dealing with international conflicts. 

St. Catharines Councillor Laura Ip, who chairs the Region's Diversity Equity Inclusion Advisory Committee, made a blog post saying the resolution in support of Palestine has “no place” on Regional Council. 

https://lauraip.ca/2024/01/23/support-for-israelis-and-palestinians-living-in-niagara-motion-january-25-2024-council-meeting/

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, who is also a Regional Councillor, told former St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik in an interview on CKTB 610AM the motion has nothing to do with the Regional mandate and will be divisive so shouldn't even be on the agenda.

But just over a year ago all three voted to voluntarily sanction themselves from Russia in support of Ukraine, which had nothing to do with the Region's mandate and did nothing to help Ukraine or Ukrainians and which I delegated against. 

Yet Councillor Ip criticized the Palestine motion as having  “no weight or bearing on what will actually happen,” a clear double standard for all three voting for the Ukraine motion and even allowing it.

St. Catharines City Council passed a resolution in support of Ukraine supporting military escalation, which I also delegated against. 

Niagara-on-the-Lake unanimously passed such a resolution. 

These motions were divisive too and had nothing to do with municipal mandates, a clear double standard by Mayor Mat Siscoe.

Just a little bit up the highway from Niagara, Mississauga and Brampton City Councils UNINAMOUSLY passed resolutions supporting a ceasefire in Palestine. 

If it's relevant for these two Ontario cities why is it not relevant for Niagara?

The Region already stepped firmly into the Israel-Palestine conflict when Chair Jim Bradley issued a statement October 11 in solidarity with Israel and Niagara's Jewish residents, lighting the Region's headquarters in the colours of the Israeli flag. 

But despite getting nearly 100 emails asking him to also light up in the colours of the Palestinian flag for the nearly 500 residents of Palestinian descent there is not a word, even though so many disproportionately more Palestinians are being killed by Israel (including children sheltering in UN schools). 

This is a double standard and lack of basic humanity.

The same day Mayor Mat Siscoe sent St. Catharines Councillor Robin McPherson (of my ward) to speak on behalf of the City of St. Catharines at a pro-Israel rally. 

The City of St. Catharines already took a position and condemned one side of the violence, but when it comes to calling for a real, binding ceasefire to END the violence it's suddenly off-mandate and divisive.

But the Palestine resolution DOES have to do with the municipal mandate because it calls for removing the cap on Palestinians so they can be reunited with their families in Niagara. 

These refugees will need services from the Region, which has been recognized by Council when it came to Ukrainian refugees. 

This cap is causing panic and stress in the race to get approved to safety.

Councillor Ip repeated the misleading statement from Minister Marc Miller that there is no “hard cap” on Palestinian refugees when his own ministry's news release on January 9th said it's even worse: the program expires even before 1,000 people if they aren't approved by next year.

Why is this a divisive, hateful issue as two Councillors said? 

Because so many don't recognize the basic humanity of Palestinians.

Palestinian lives don't matter and are disposable to too many. 

This is also a bandwagon attack on Palestine solidarity. 

We see:

* A Hamilton MPP who is a Black woman with a disability excluded from the legislature she was elected to for refusing to jump on this bandwagon.

* Calls for deporting anyone expressing support for Palestine.

* Fines, arrests, police brutality for protesters supposedly protected by the Charter.

Condemning a resolution in support of Palestine as out of bounds is part of the same crackdown on solidarity with Palestinians and complicit with anti-Palestinian racism and ongoing settler colonialism. 

You can't acknowledge that you are on Indigenous land and be silent when Palestinians are suffering the same colonial settler violence. 

You can't be anti-racist except when it comes to Palestinians.