Brittany Bovey, 23, looks on while in attendance at the June 13, 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Innisfail, Alta. that she organized. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh)

By Josh Hall

work far from over

Attendees say Innisfail anti-racism protest a good step forward

Jun 15, 2020 | 11:34 AM

The group that has helped lead several local anti-racism protests of late says while their work and that of many others has been productive, it’s far from over.

Sadia Khan and Dieulita Datus are behind Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta and were in Innisfail on Saturday for an anti-racism discussion they say drew nearly 1,000 people.

The event gained national attention after it was initially cancelled following a wave of online bigotry. It was revived following a surge of support and in the end was mostly peaceful before some heated but non-violent interactions between some protesters and counter-protesters.

“It was handfuls that came from Calgary and Edmonton; most came from central Alberta,” says Datus. “Besides, what would be wrong with Albertans supporting Albertans? The other side always likes to say ‘Alberta Strong,’ so what’s wrong with it?”

Three protests have been held in Red Deer this month and another took place in Stettler on Friday. Upcoming events are planned for Lacombe (June 19), Sylvan Lake (June 26) and Blackfalds (June 27).

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“We’ve had so many reach out to us and say I want to do that in my community. I think we need to keep going because it’s picking up momentum,” says Khan.

Dax Williams, a black man born and raised in central Alberta, came face to face with counter-protesters on Saturday.

“I don’t go to these things to talk with like minds. Talking with somebody who agrees with me is nice, but it’s not really the point. Some people you make it through to and some you don’t,” he says.

This was the case in Innisfail where he says a number of men loudly revved motorcycles as the event wrapped up.

Dax Williams (centre) is seen here having a discussion with counter-protesters at the Black Lives Matter protest in Innisfail on Saturday. (Photo: CTV Calgary)

“It’s exhausting because it’s the same conversation over and over. The reality is people are listening right now and it’s maybe for the first time in their life,” he explains.

“There was one gentleman in particular near the end, who was a really nice guy, but he was holding a sign that read ‘I love Canadian energy,’ so I don’t think he quite understood what the protest was about. There are a lot of people making this into a partisan issue; oil versus whatever, or liberals versus conservatives, but it’s not about that at all.”

Williams recently posted a half-hour long video on YouTube in which he tells of several encounters with police that would have gone much more smoothly, he believes, if he were white.

Williams harkens back to his early school days where he first experienced systemic racism.

“When I talk about my own experience in school and about how my teacher made only me stay behind to clean the classroom — how many teachers knew and didn’t say anything?” he wonders. “Reform in education has to happen; not just with books, but how teachers address and treat students.”

Williams also says change is needed in policing and within the family dynamic.

“A lot of people are contacting me talking about future learning and exposing their children to this subject,” he says. “They’re like, ‘Holy s***, I had no idea this was real,’ and these are the people who are going to talk to their kids. So even if not everybody is understanding or sympathetic, you have people out there now who are going to be vocal and are going to help.”

Roger Tewson, a resident of Innisfail for 17 years, attended on Saturday and says he’s encouraged by what he saw.

“There was some tension in the air. I felt that in the end there was a group that specifically targeted those leaving to try and get a rise out of them. But protesters remained calm and loudly defended their right to assemble,” says Tewson, who attended in part to offer his services as a trained medic.

“I hope the impact will show Innisfail residents, town council and the mayor that there is a need to recognize the lack of understanding regarding racism, systemic racism, and why persons of colour, Indigenous peoples, and others feel persecuted.”

RCMP confirm there were no tickets handed out at Saturday’s protest.