About 80 people came out to City Hall June 5th to show solidarity with other anti-racism protests in the country and around the world.
Residents held signs saying “Black lives matter”, “Respect existence or expect resistance” and “No justice no peace” at the protest while drivers passing-by honked their horns.
Tigra-Lee, who is Jamaican-Cree, says it was important to show her support as she doesn’t want her family to grow up experiencing racism.
“I’ve experienced racism. Every single person in my family has experienced racism. I hope that my daughters never have to experience racism in this day and age because it really does not need to be like this.”
She says racism is still a prevalent issue in Canada.
“I think people tend to focus on what’s happening in the United States and they forget that it’s still alive and well here,” she says.
“I’m here to be a voice for the people that don’t have a voice anymore, people who can’t speak for themselves or children that don’t understand what’s happening today. That’s why I’m here. To hopefully make a change in the world.”
Amanda Coupal started chants of “What’s his name?” with the rest of the group responding with “George Floyd.”
“What happened to George Floyd was absolutely horrific and we’re trying to make change in his name.”
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 when a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes as he begged for air. His death has led to protests all over the United States as well as in Canada and other parts of the world.
“What’s going on in the world isn’t right,” Hayley Meyer says. “Everybody needs to be treated fairly and equally and we can’t continue to see people of colour, black people as we’ve been seeing in the media treated in such unfair and unequal ways. We need to show whatever support we can and use whatever privilege we can to make as big a change as possible.”
RCMP officers did not stop the protest but did come by to ensure it was a peaceful protest.
The City of Lloydminster had no official statement but respects residents rights to a peaceful protest.
Events are being held throughout Canada including North Battleford which will hold a Black Lives Matter Laps for Life event at the Walking Track near the Dekker Centre at 5:30 p.m. on June 5.