The Premier says he will push for a national anti-racism program during a conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other Canadian premiers this week.
John Horgan says he was horrified by the violent protests in the United States that were sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.
He noted that despite B.C.’s efforts to treat people equally there are blemishes on the province’s record – including the Chinese Head Tax, the Komagata Maru incident, and ongoing racism towards Indigenous people.
He also recently spoke out against violence towards Chinese-Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If we are aided by a federal program and a federal initiative that has us all working together from coast to coast to coast, I think that lifts up all Canadians and we can identify and recognize that as a diverse, multi-cultural country, its better to have a national approach to these issues,” said Horgan.
Echoing the words of Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Horgan is asking people who plan on attending protests against racism and police violence to take precautions because of the pandemic.
During his weekly media update, he was asked why people in B.C. have to limit crowd sizes at weddings and other gatherings to 50 people, with no similar restrictions on protests.
“If people congregate to have their voices heard in a random way, which is although we do have notice that it happening, its not as scheduled an event as a wedding would be or any other areas where public health orders are in place,” he said.
“I talked to Dr. Henry about this and Minister [Adrian] Dix, and it’s a challenge. I absolutely understand how the public will go, ‘what’s the difference?’ But there is a difference. We’re saying to people lets have smaller events under 50 people, and try and exercise responsibility. I’m saying the same thing to protesters, be responsible to yourself and more importantly to the people around you.”
Horgan hopes that all protests in B.C. – like one set to happen in Kamloops tomorrow and another in Vancouver on Friday – will be peaceful events.
“I am absolutely hopeful any of the demonstrations that are supporting the issues of Black Lives Matter, and and other issues of racism in British Columbia and around the world, will be peaceful and focus on the issues at hand,” Horgan said.
“If there are those that try to assert themselves in what has, by and large, been peaceful protest of course that is where we need to take action. Law enforcement will be prepared to do that.”
Peaceful Protest Set to Happen in Kamloops on Thursday
A group called Kamloops Black Lives Matter Movement is planning a rally at noon tomorrow at Riverside Park.
Organizers say it is a protest in honour of Regis Korchinsky-Paquet, George Floyd and the many other unarmed people of colour [who are] being murdered daily. They’re asking people who plan on attending to dress for the weather, and bring water, signs, and ‘an attitude for change’.
Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian is not planning to attend but says he empathizes with the sentiment that’s being expressed. He too is also asking people to follow the rules around physical distancing and to wear a mask, and to be mindful of flood mitigation work at Riverside Park.
Organizers also say if people ‘have any intention of inciting violence or causing damage, [to not] attend as this is a peaceful demonstration.’
There is a contingency plan to move the rally to Prince Charles Park depending on the conditions at Riverside Park.
– With files from Jeff Andreas
(Photo via GoToVan Photo on Flickr)
