Meridian Source - June 11, 2020

Thursday, June 11, 2020

VOLUME 2 I ISSUE 50

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

Community supports equality for all TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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Border City and area residents gathered Friday afternoon to peacefully express their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests currently taking place throughout the world. Roughly 100 people of all ages, races, and walks of life gathered along Highway 16 by the Border Markers, proudly hoisting signs reading “HONK 4 EQUALITY” and “Don’t Ignore Something Because it

Makes You Uncomfortable,” all while remaining peaceful as they spread their message. Black Lives Matter protests have become a common sight worldwide following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder in Floyd’s death, while three other officers have been charged with aiding and abetting murder. Friday’s rally in the Border City was all about peace and equality for all, a message voiced by all who attended. “We’re here in support of George Floyd, but not only George Floyd; all ethnicities ... We’re trying to bring it to light and really

crush racism,” said Preston Sinclair, a proud Indigenous Canadian who attended the rally with his family. “Everybody sees it and it kind of gets brushed off, and people don’t realize how much it affects everybody.” Members of the Lloydminster RCMP Detachment attended, including Insp. Lee Brachmann, who noted the peaceful protest was about ending racism in our communities. “The RCMP respects the diversity of our communities and we’re out here today to make sure the demonstration remains peaceful and that the people gathered here have an opportunity to have their voices heard and get their point across in a safe manner,” said Brachmann. “Our goal here today was to make sure the community stays safe – that being both the participants here as well as local area businesses and residences.” One local attendee, who identified herself as Linda, was grateful for the police presence,

A Black Lives Matter rally was held in the Border City last Friday as residents showed their support for equality for all. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source as it gave her a great sense of emotion and acknowledgment. “I felt I had to be here for a number of reasons, but the utmost being that, had my son’s late girlfriend not lost their child, I’d be a grandmother of an African American little boy who would have turned 11 this past January,” she said. “Now, being that I’m Cree, that would have been quite the life for that little boy because not only is systemic

racism rampant with black lives, but also for First Nations, so it’s in honour of that little boy that I had to be here. “There are so many with no voice and I had to be a voice for them.” One Lloydminster resident who was unable to attend was Brian Verigan, whose 11-year-old son, Zion, felt compelled to show his support and was accompanied by his nana. “He came to me on Thursday and (excit-

edly) asked if I could take the day off work because he felt it was very important to do something about this,” said Verigan. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t take the day off, but we asked his nana if she wanted to go down with him, and she loved the idea. “He’s a fantastic kid who really cares about life, and what’s right and what’s wrong, so I like to think that’s a part of his upbringing,” he said with pride.