Click Here for Diversity Online Sept. 25, 2020
Is Alberta Becoming the New Belarus?
Where’s Premier Kenney?
According to an Abacus Poll, 61% of Canadians think systemic racism exist in Canada including; PM Trudeau, Alberta Opposition Leader, Rachel Notley, and the Edmonton Police Chief, Dale McFee.
This awareness of racism in Alberta is being constantly shared in communities across the province with some resistance, increasingly becoming violent as counter protest takes on peaceful protest.
On September 20, 2020, a peaceful anti-racism protest took place at the Rotary Recreation Park in Red Deer. As demonstrators were setting up for the event after changing venue to evade disturbances from any other groups, the organizer of a counter protest with the Facebook name, Pat King, found them and called his followers through a Facebook message to join him at the new location.
Pat King, whom days before the event made a Facebook and Tiktok call to anyone in Central Alberta to join him drive out what he called “these leftwing anarchists trying to disrupt communities and threaten People”.
Video footage shows that scenes were chaotic and the event was canceled after yelling, throwing of punches, and a push down of a tiny lady.
The RCMP said they arrived before the violence and helped to keep the two groups apart. The RCMP also said in a statement that one male was allegedly assaulted by another, caught on video prior to Red Deer RCMP members arriving on the scene and was shown to officers by those on scene. Videos also showed a small lady pushed down by a big man who gave her a slap on her jaw.
RCMP did not make any arrest after being confronted with all the video evidence.
After media reports of the Belarus-like scenes, on Tuesday, the RCMP in a news conference announced that it’s opening two criminal investigations.
Is Premier Kenney scared to speak up for racialized communities against hate groups in Alberta?
Not a word from Alberta Premier, Jason Kenney, on this new Belarus-like developments in Alberta, where a peaceful protest is greeted by punches, push down, and yelling. Alberta Justice Minister, Kaycee Madu however condemned the violence, so too was the Red Deer Mayor, Tera Veer.
Well, someone is speaking up for racialized communities facing racism in Alberta?
“This is not what Red Deer is about. This city is inclusive, tolerant, and welcoming. At the same time, what we saw Sunday is an abhorrent example of the racist violence that still exists and is experienced by racialized people. We must confront and condemn racism and hate in all its forms, in every corner of the province,” Alberta Opposition Leader, Rachel Notley.
Pat King who admits to individual racism in Alberta, but not systemic racism, was asked in an interview which he live-streamed on his Facebook page what he thinks minorities who face racism should do, and he said, “…just take colour out of everything and you will have no racism…”.
Blacks, Indigenous, and racialized communities in Alberta will wish it was as easy as Pat puts it.
Red Deer RCMP is asking for witnesses regarding alleged assault at the protest to this incident to come forward with any information and contact Red Deer RCMP GIS at 403-406-2300.
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