Black Lives Matter (Facebook)

By Liam Verster

Black Lives Matter rally

Black Lives Matter protest to go in Grande Prairie on Saturday

Jun 5, 2020 | 1:17 PM

A peaceful Black Lives Matter rally, protesting systematic racism and police brutality against black people, will go in Grande Prairie on Saturday, June 6.

It is being organized through Facebook by Isaac Bryant, who says he really wants to be a part of the global movement, which was sparked with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody. Bryant says though the systematic racism in Canada may not be as prevalent as it is in the United States, where the movement originated, it’s still an important issue that exists here and needs to be addressed.

Bryant says by bringing this issue into the limelight, they can start having discussions about how others see black people and communities, and hopefully, to get people to recognize their own prejudices.

“Something that I’ve realized more and more as I’ve grown up and moved around the world, is that black people are seen as a threat before a person. So if there’s any altercation, you’re seeing trouble before you’re seeing another person. That doesn’t happen all the time with the white community. So, short term I would like to see the attitudes begin to change within people themselves, to recognize these prejudices, recognize the racial profiling that can go on in every day social life.”

He says addressing these prejudices within individuals could eventually lead to changes to the system, but this is the first step, putting the issue in centre stage and in the public’s view.

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Local History

Oliver's Funeral Home - 109 years of Service

Sep 04, 2024

When Bryant was first organizing this event, he wanted to include Indigenous peoples and communities into the cause as well, but after speaking with both parties, was talked out of it.

“We believed that we couldn’t have this open discussion without bringing the Indigenous people in, but that was our own personal beliefs. We’ve since spoken to members of the black community and members of the Indigenous population, we’ve spoken to a lot of people in fact, and the response we got was ‘This is Black Lives Matter, this is about addressing the racism towards my race.’ And even the Indigenous people, the response we got from them was that ‘This isn’t our time, we’re going to stand and fight with you, we’re going to stand and say this is wrong, but when our time comes, it’ll be our time.'”

He does say that even though it’s a Black Lives Matter movement, it does address the issues that are prolific in the system against many marginalized or oppressed group, and is a step in the right direction towards making positive changes that could benefit everyone.

Bryant says he and the others involved in organizing the protest have been working with the RCMP and the City, especially with the Intercultural Association within the City, and they have all been very helpful. He says they’d like to continue to work with the Association once the protest is over, in an effort to invoke change.

Bryant adds that this is a strictly peaceful protest, though there will be a bit of a police presence to help manage traffic, with maybe a member of the RCMP giving a speech.

Bryant says they will also be trying to ensure the COVID-19 guidelines are followed by having people bring and wear masks, physically distance from one another, and have the groups marching together be 50 people or less.

The rally begins outside the Grande Prairie Courthouse at noon on Saturday, with the march going through downtown, and circling back to the starting point around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.