Racism in Canada: White Privilege

It is horrific. I cannot ignore this. We cannot ignore this. I heard someone's comment, "White people have to do something about racism." Whites are either allies or racists. Tolerating racism is racism.

 I grew up in downtown Toronto, with many diverse friends. My white world, with two working parents, was pretty good. I was raised to treat others as I would like to be treated. The kids at school were from various socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups, and religions. This isn't true for all. People in Canada are getting a knee on their neck frequently, The National reports.

Rural people are different, if this is all they know and have no experience with other cultures, values or traditions. It is important to understand White Privilege. We have no idea what racism is about. With all that is going on, we cannot close our eyes. Said one protestor:

"We have to change the way we think, and how we feel about one another."

Our Minister Hussen, MP and lawyer, spoke on camera about the racism he faces. We have many diverse MPs and MPPs. Not all are equal, however.

Many people of colour make complaints about unnecessary, uncalled for traffic stops, for example. Racial profiling. Black men driving their own Mercedes, in their own neighbourhoods, stopped by cops. This is my MPP, who posted this racist comment, since deleted. This is white privilege. Hillier who earns his living (6 digits) on our tax dollars. I cannot close my eyes.

A Twitter buddy reminded me of Hillier's reputation, this from 2009:

"Then there was the Dombrowsky email. As President of the Lanark Landowner's Association (LLA), Hillier emailed a photo of a dead deer with a group of hunters. Under the photo the caption read – Leona. He sent the email to MPP Leona Dombrowsky.  Dombrowsky sat on the email, then released it months later on the eve of an LLA protest in Toronto. Hillier never apologised for sending the email. He only said that it appeared Ms. Dombrowsky did not share his sense of humour."

Some of our Canadian politicians are speaking out. Our PM said this:

"Anti-Black racism exists in Canada and we must do all that we can to end it for good. So as leaders and as allies, we must listen to, learn from, and work with every person who marches and posts and expects more than the status quo."

Jagmeet Singh (leader of the Canadian NDP) said, "When you see someone that looks like you being killed like that it makes you feel like you have no worth and no value. It makes you angry."

RACISM. It exists in Canada. We must hear and bear witness to their stories.

If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem. We need to look for the allies. Many are marching and protesting peacefully. Vancouver, Ottawa, Kingston, Moncton, Halifax, and other Canadian cities. 

Ahmed Ali

@MrAhmednurAli

·

9h

It's a privilege to learn about racism instead of experiencing it your whole life.

I found this online. 

Consider the following graphic, developed by Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (2005) and adapted by Ellen Tuzzolo (2016):

Justice or Injustice? What really happens in a jury room

Janaya Khan Speaks at Bryn Mawr for #BLM

February is Black History Month, or, as the founder of the #BlackLivesMatter movement in Toronto Janaya Khan called it, Black Future Month, because black people “are still going to be black after February.”

“we have to be the disrupters of truth…we have to imagine differently, and then make it true."

UPDATES: 

Black Man Killed By 'George Zimmerman 2.0' To Be Treated Like ...

News One-Feb. 13, 2018

Once again, Black folks are sounding the alarm on Stand Your Ground laws, which are essentially legal protections for those who use excessive or deadly force against African-Americans. Why, you ask? Well, Utah's House approved a bill Monday by a 58-11 vote that further allows for folks to get away with ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florida judge frees George Zimmerman on $9,000 bond in domestic case

A central Florida judge freed George Zimmerman on $9,000 bond on Tuesday and forbade him from possessing weapons or ammunition on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence during a dispute with his girlfriend. Nov. 19, 2013

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE: Zimmerman was acquitted this past week.  6/6/13

The ramifications of this trial will be deep and long. 

For example:

Hayward City Blues Fest, CA

Lester Chambers (FB page), appearing at the Hayward Russell City Blues Festival, was assaulted by a woman after dedicating a song, People Get Ready, to the deceased 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Lester Chambers(FB)

Dylan (Chambers) Here.... Lester was just assaulted on stage at The Russell City Hayward Blues Festival by a crazed woman after dad dedicated People Get Ready to Trayvon Martin. He is on the way to the hospital now

• Pamela Wilson Glad to hear Lester Chambers will be OK.
  Bruised ribs and muscle damage takes a while to heal. There is no reason that justifies an attack like this. 
  Sounds like some great music will be heard today.
  Prayers for peace and healing. Wish I was there.
  http://www.examiner.com/article/classic-rock-musician-lester-chambers-assaulted-on-stage-at-blues-festival

  3 hours ago · Edited · Like
• 

  Oliver Cashman-Brown fyi, "People Get Ready" is a song about bring people together and finding a shared path to Jesus. It isn't a song about rioting or violence or hate or vengeance.

And more:

Zimmerman acquittal in Trayvon Martin death sparks protests, vandalism

QUESTION ON MANSLAUGHTER

"At the courthouse, Nelson said she would allow the jurors to set their own working hours. The panel worked through lunch on Saturday, returning only at about 6 p.m. to ask for the clarification on the manslaughter charge."

 

Justice or Injustice? What really happens in a jury room: indictment of the US Justice System
With the current *Zimmerman trial in the US, and the recently finished #Hutt trial, this book was a timely one, sent from a PR agency, as with most of my book reviews. This book tells of the authors time as juror on the case of The State of SC vs. Kimberly Renee Poole. Simply written, the first of Hardee's books, it illustrates the process of jury selection and the trial.

A true story, the author: J.L. Hardee, was a juror. If you have never sat on a jury, you really need to read this book. Whilst the US and the Canadian systems are similar, they are not exactly alike. Canadian jurors are not permitted to discuss deliberations. This being a US author, he lays it all out. With respect to juries, they all must deliberate, and come to a decision. Sequestered jurors do not have a great time.

It is an easy read, with very little in the way of descriptions it lacks any portrait of the setting, people, and is a bit stark in its simplicity. Hardee isn't an experienced author, and it tells. I've read many memoirs, and they all seem similar in that little is given to time, place, characterization.

It is also a compelling read, in that one can understand how things go in the direction that they do with peer pressure. I don't want to give away the book. It is a true story, but the ending, horrific.

The author's blog posts:
Justice or Injustice, by J. L. Hardee, ranked #38 in criminal law books, is being picked up by law schools across the US to show law students some insight into a jury’s verdict. The jury was hung 6-6 and how they came to a verdict will surprise you all.
Written by a young man with 15 years service, including work as a firefighter, paramedic, instructor and fire chief, it is an intriguing story of the process in which a US jury engages to determine guilt or innocence.


I was quite shocked to read some of Mr. Hardee's writings regarding the Zimmerman trial, in which he states,

"I haven’t seen one shred of evidence that shows Zimmerman as a racist. He has a neighbor, which is black, that supports him and says he isn’t a racist. His instructor, a black male, was called by the prosecutor today, and he supports Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense."

It worries me that Mr. Hardee, with experience in listening to trial evidence, while a trial is ongoing, receiving TV coverage, has already pronounced Zimmerman innocent and that he will be freed. Not all of the evidence has been introduced in court.

*Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. Zimmerman told police that the teenager looked suspicious and that there had been several break-ins in the neighborhood. The two got into a physical altercation and Zimmerman said he was forced to draw his gun and kill Martin in self-defense.

#Hutt found guilty of first-degree murder - Ottawa - CBC News An Ottawa man accused of scalding his wife with boiling water and then leaving her to die in 2009 has been found guilty of first-degree murder.

What differentiates Canada from the United States is this:

1. Pickton juror regrets taking part in trial - British Columbia Aug 9, 2010 - Jurors in Canada are allowed to talk to news media after a trial ends, but can never publicly discuss their deliberations with fellow jurors.