Over the past weeks, Canadians have witnessed what members of the Black community have experienced for generations: the horrific mistreatment of Black people by the police. Our communities have long been hyper-surveilled and over policed; our minds and bodies have long been subjected to inhumanity, cruelty, violence and even death. Our experiences of violence have been ignored and negated by the unwillingness of many to hear and believe our voices, and an unwillingness to take action or ensure accountability.
We have also witnessed the emergence of a political movement – across the globe – that includes not only our communities, but those who saw in the murder of George Floyd, the injustice and cruelty that is the result of anti-Black racism. We are inspired by the scale and momentum of this movement as it continues to unfold. We do believe that this moment is long overdue. It is our collective responsibility to ensure there is real and lasting change to the structures that have permitted and perpetuated white supremacy, anti-Black racism and violence.
We mourn the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Tony McDade, whose deaths have risen to public consciousness. We also mourn the countless other known and unknown victims of anti-Black racism, white supremacy and police brutality in the United States.