So, on the one hand, the RCMP “acknowledges the disproportionate harm that street checks have caused to marginalized communities, particularly African Nova Scotians.” But then, sticking its other ceremonial boot firmly and deeply down its throat, an official Mounties’ statement of August 27 went on add: “However, we are also part of the broader RCMP, […]
Tanks but no tanks: Halifax councillors vote to cancel armoured vehicle, reallocate funding
Halifax regional councillors voted on Tuesday to cancel the purchase of an armoured vehicle for the city’s police and reallocate the funding to diversity and inclusion, public safety, and fighting anti-Black racism. Councillors voted to redirect $53,500 to city’s office of diversity and inclusion to make up for a planned cut this year; a total […]
“Do right by me”: by not addressing the systematic racism of street checks, the white power structure is doubling down on Nova Scotia’s well-earned reputation for ignorance, stigma, and stench
“Until you do right by me, everything you think about is gonna crumble.” Voiced by Whoopi Goldberg in her role as Celie in the film adaptation of The Color Purple, the line has recently wafted, repeatedly, through my mind. To be sure, the thought has been prompted by the magnificent production of The Color Purple […]
Let’s read the street check report together
I don't know if there's a German word for that feeling when you're so horrified that it becomes entertaining, but if there isn't, someone should probably coin it for Black people reading the police comments in the report.
It’s been a week since the street check report was released. Despite all the politicians and police board members and police leaders being so “shocked and saddened” by the statistics, unsurprisingly, here we are a week later with politicians derailing action by talking about ending quotas that never formally existed and the police don’t admit […]
Street checks are racist and dumb; they should be outlawed
Morning File, Thursday, March 28, 2019
News 1. Street checks I’ve asked El Jones to write an article about Scot Wortley’s street checks report that was released by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission yesterday. Jones has been quite busy and hasn’t been able to sit down and write; she tells me she’ll write an article this afternoon; in the meanwhile, […]
Get out into the country, city slickers!
Morning File, Tuesday, March 26, 2019
I’m Suzanne Rent and I’m filling in for Tim today. You can follow me on Twitter @Suzanne_Rent News 1. Budget day in Nova Scotia It’s budget day in Nova Scotia and as expected healthcare will be one of the key spending areas. In an interview with Keith Doucette from Canadian Press, Finance Minister Karen Casey […]
“Networking” by its very nature is exclusionary
Morning File, Monday, September 17, 2018
News 1. Acadia and Rick Mehta “The university {Acadia] had good reasons to fire Rick Mehta,” writes Stephen Kimber: But by conflating and commingling those reasons with specious arguments about its own reputation and seeming to accept the notion Mehta shouldn’t be allowed to share his wrong-headed rants on social media or challenge and provoke […]
Bearing Witness and Paying Tribute: Morning File, Saturday, November 18
1. What it’s like when someone dies in custody. An original report from prisoners Background. November 22nd will be 10 years since the death of Howard Hyde in custody. Hyde was tasered by correctional officers during a mental health crisis. His death also marks the last time there was a public inquiry in the province into […]