Marchers in Toronto call for end to systemic anti-Black racism on Emancipation Day – CBC.ca

At least 100 people marched in downtown Toronto to celebrate Emancipation Day and to call for an end to anti-Black racism in government institutions in Canada.

Emancipation Day, markedevery year on Aug. 1, commemorates the abolition of slavery across the British Empire.

Marchers called for an end to anti-Black racism in such areas aschild welfare, policing, the criminal justice system, arts and culture, education and health care.

Yvette Blackburn, a spokesperson for theGlobal Jamaica Diaspora Council, said people marchedto celebrate freedom but also to demand that real change take place to improve the lives of Black people.

"What is freedom? Freedom comes at a cost. And right now, it'sthe cost of the lives and the interactions that we, as Black people, have to deal with every day in society," Blackburn told reporters.

"With the push of anti-Black racismand the recognition of our value and our work, we must be here to walk on this day to say that changes have to be implemented so that we get rid of anti-Black racism and the institutional discrimination that has been happening."

The march began at the Children's Aid Society of Toronto, 30 Isabella St., and ended at the Ontario legislature.

Along the route, marchersstopped at a number of points, including the Toronto Police Service headquarters, 40 College St., and the Ontario education ministry, 438 University Ave.

"It is our children thatare being impacted at a greater rate, at being institutionalized, at being displaced from families, having to deal with the educational system. The bonds and chains are no longer holding us, however, we are still bridled by the fact of discrimination and racism that exists in the institutions and the systems. We have to break those," Blackburnsaid.

"By being here on Emancipation Day, it's to say thatwe need to look structurally into the frameworks of discriminationand racism that are impacting us across the board."

Blackburn said activists arecallingonPrime Minister Justin Trudeau to apologize to Black people in Canada for slavery.

"There's never been an apology issued. I think it's time. Emancipation should be everywhere," she said.

Bishop Ransford Jones, lead pastor at the Destiny Gospel Centre in Markham, said that Emancipation Day is a historic day in Canada.

"Today is a very significant day. It is a solemn day. It is a sacred day for the abolition of slavery," he told reporters during the march. "We have to come to ensure that we use ourfreedom of today toensure the freedom for people oftomorrow."

Jones said he wants his two young children to live in a fair, free and equitable society.

"The key messagetoday is that we want to ensure systemic institutionalized racism in Canada is dismantled so that all people can live free."

Jones added that the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked street protests around the world,has led to a "greatawareness" and a new momentum against anti-Black racism.

"People are recognizing that the systems that have been entrenched over time donotservemarginalized, racialized, especially Black people. We want to ensure that those systemsare torn down and that things will change for the betterment of our people and society in general,"he added.

At a rally before the march, he told the crowd: "We are appealing to those in authority today that you must take your knees off people's necks and let them breathe in our spaces and in our places so we can all enjoy all this great country of Canada."

Jacqueline Edwards, president of Association of Black Law Enforcers, said Black people who work in law enforcement are trying to change the system from within. Edwards works for Correctional Service of Canada.

"We want the community to know that while there are problems within our systems, there are a number of us as well that are part of that system that arecarrying ourselves the right way and that are acknowledging the needfor change," Edwards said.

What is new in the anti-Black racism movement is the collaboration for change, not the recognition that change is necessary, she added.

"Everybody needs to take an active role in stomping out racism," she said.

Marchers chanted "No Justice, No Peace!" and "Peace on the left, justice on the right!" and "When Black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!"

The Slavery Abolition Act received royal assent on Aug. 28, 1833 and the legislation cameinto force across the Empire and its colonies onAug. 1, 1834.

Since that time, Canadian communities have staged events to celebratethe abolition of slavery.

Organizations that supported Toronto'smarch are: A Different Booklist Cultural Centre, Black Artists' Networks In Dialogue, Black Health Alliance, Black Medical Students' Association at University of Toronto, CareMongering-TO, Destiny Gospel Centre, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, Jamaican Canadian Association, Ma'at Legal Services, Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators, Unifor and Zero Gun Violence Movement.

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Marchers in Toronto call for end to systemic anti-Black racism on Emancipation Day - CBC.ca