All welcome here

Hundreds attend peaceful vigil and demonstration in Picton

The words “I can’t breathe” have become a siren call to action to protest anti-Black racism by police in cities and towns around the world. Those were the last words spoken by George Floyd of Minneapolis as he lay on the ground with a police officer’s knee pressed against his neck. Floyd’s death and a video of the incident fanned protests across the US, and prompted County resident Judith Burfoot into action. “I’m feeling disgusted and appalled by the murder of George Floyd, and what happened in Toronto recently, and wanted to do something and not be silent, but to be engaged,” she said. In 2019, she formed and organization called All Welcome Here to allow people of colour who live in the County a way to connect with each other. With the help of other Black members in the community, she began to organize a demonstration and vigil in Picton under the banner of the Black Lives Matter movement. On Friday evening, hundreds of people lined Main Street in Picton in an at times noisy show of support, and to call for an end to systemic anti-Black racism by police. The demonstrators spanned all ages, from young people, to families with children, to seniors, and encompassed diverse ethnic groups. Large chalk “X”s on the sidewalk helped maintain physical distancing to the extent possible, given the large number of people, almost all of whom were wearing face masks as a means to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Harris family (L-R): Rylan, Tefri, Barbie and Rihanna, attended the vigil and demonstration after being encouraged to do so by Rihanna, age 10.

Given the nature of the demonstration and the need to maintain physical distancing, there were no prepared speeches nor an organized march. Instead, volunteer videographers moved along the street, live streaming the event via Facebook or Instagram so that anyone could see what was going on, as the line of demonstrators stretched from beyond the cenotaph in the west to the town hill in the east. Almost every car and truck passing down Main Street had its horn honking in a show of support. Burfoot did give a short speech from the central location adjacent to the library. She said that she was unbearably saddened that Black men and women continue to be murdered by police, but that there was a ray of hope in that these protests have now engaged the wider community, and not just Black people. However, she added that the work has just begun and needed to be continued by everyone to win the fight against racism, intolerance and bigotry. Perhaps the most telling moments came when Robin Dutt led a vigil that lasted precisely eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time that George Floyd’s neck was under the knee of the Minneapolis police officer. Dutt asked everyone to lie on the ground for that length of time. The street became eerily silent as the protesters lay motionless on the ground. A few had furrowed brows as they considered Floyd’s last moments alive, and there were silent tears for some. It was a chilling and powerful reminder of the work that remains to be done to make events like that belong firmly in the past.

As only about five percent of County residents identify as people of colour, the majority of those in attendance are perhaps only indirectly touched by racism. But for some, it begins early. Barbie Harris came to the demonstration by the influence of her 10-year-old daughter Rihanna, who has been trying to bring the teaching of Black History Month back to her school. “I think if we learn about Black History Month it would change some of the actions of different students in my school, and it would make a big difference and racism would stop,” said Rihanna. “It makes me happy to see so many people come out and protest for what is right. It makes me feel we’re going to make a difference in the world.” For Burfoot, the demonstration exceeded all of her expectations. “I was amazed, just blown away. I’ve never seen anything like this. The support of people showing up, and laying on the street, it was emotional, it was empowering. It was astonishing and it was different. Something is different this time,” she said. “There were people from every group imaginable, ready to show their unequivocal support. The movement is so broad, and it seems for the first time people actually get it. People are not dismissing it, they’re not trying to find ways that it’s ‘our’ fault. People are here to say this is absolutely unacceptable and intolerable and we won’t have it in our community anymore. A demonstration is literally putting your out body there, being present. It matters that people are out on the street. To be clear, this is not a ‘feel good’ march. It is a political march, it’s a demonstration about political action and societal change, and so it is important to emphasise follow-ups too.” To that extent, Burfoot encourages the wider community to learn about the problems and extent of anti-Black racism, to identify it and call it out when they see it, and to welcome people of colour as neighbours and visitors. For more information, please visit allwelcomehere.ca, which currently redirects to the Facebook page. Videos of the demonstration can be seen on Instagram @allwelcomehere.