Justice 4 Black Lives takes message to city hall

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This article was published 23/06/2020 (2082 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEMONSTRATORS filled the steps and sidewalks between Winnipeg City Hall and Main Street Tuesday to rally against anti-Black racism and demand major policing changes.

The flash protest was the second daily event hosted by Justice 4 Black Lives Winnipeg, which will continue its pop-up protests through Monday, June 29. The group also led a June 5 rally that saw thousands gather for the cause at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

By late Tuesday afternoon, more than 63,000 people had signed the organization’s petition to defund and abolish the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). They argue the service’s funding should be transferred to community groups which provide social services instead.

“We are demanding for the City of Winnipeg to publicly commit to no longer raising the WPS budget, indefinitely. Permanently. The end goal is to reduce the budget number to (zero),” the petition states.

The group also demands the WPS end its cadet program and stop using certain technology, including its helicopter and armoured rescue vehicle.

Protesters at the Tuesday event loudly chanted “defund the police, refund the community,” and “Black lives matter,” without pause, even when heavy rain poured down.

Protester Danica Fran said she hopes to attend all of the remaining flash protests.

“I support people of colour and the movement for Black Lives Matter and defunding the police,” said Fran.

Paolo Cruz, who drove to Winnipeg from Portage la Prairie for the event, said he came to push for equality.

“Why not fight for human rights and why not fight for equality… and seek justice?” he said.

Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Nobert-Seine River), who will become chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board on June 27, said he agrees social service providers may be more suited than police to handle certain crisis calls, such as those relating to missing persons and addictions.

But Chambers stressed the city must also ensure police officers have the resources they need to respond to crime.

“Any targets, any dollar amounts, we have to look at from more of an evidence-based perspective … I don’t want to leave our service short, in terms of the dollars it needs to do effective policing,” he said.

The councillor said he disagrees with calls to remove police cadets, the police helicopter and the armoured rescue vehicle.

“These are necessary tools (and resources) that the police service needs,” said Chambers.

Meanwhile, Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), who chairs council’s protection and community services committee, supports reducing the police budget. Rollins said she favours redirecting 10 per cent, or about $30 million, of the annual WPS budget to organizations that provide social services, pending careful planning and consultation.

“I think council in Winnipeg has made important moves to invest in alternative forms of public safety, other than police, but I really think more is needed… I absolutely believe 10 per cent is possible to shift,” said Rollins.

Tuesday’s rally was dedicated to Jamal Francique, a 28-year-old Black man from Mississauga, Ont., who died after being shot by police in January. The incident is still being investigated.

One of Justice 4 Black Lives Winnipeg’s organizers, Jayda Hope, tweeted Tuesday to encourage supporters to attend the final pop-up protest on June 29.

“I can’t tell you why yet, but know it’s extremely important for as many people to be there as possible,” Hope tweeted.

Locations for the 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily events are posted each morning on social media.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga