Sadia Khan (left) and Dieulita Datus are the two women behind Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta (Jessica Kaitlyn Photography)

By Josh Hall

BOILING POINT

Shifting racist sentiments possible despite clash last Sunday: Ubuntu

Sep 26, 2020 | 9:50 AM

True action is needed and the time for statements is over when it comes to taking on racism, according to two local community advocates.

Sadia Khan and Dieulita Datus with Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta say the trouble that occurred at an anti-racism event in Red Deer this past Sunday “could be seen coming a mile away.”

“It was like a boiling pot spilling over, which is why this summer when we held our rallies, we kept saying we need to confront the difficult subjects of racism, discrimination, anti-Black and anti-Indigenous sentiments, and even the homophobic nature of many people in central Alberta,” says Datus.

“A lot of that fell on deaf ears, and many community leaders we were hoping to have conversations with either ignored it or simply made very blank statements and little effort to actually engage.”

This emboldened some to say and do certain things, Datus believes, while other citizens were left feeling unsafe in expressing their thoughts about racism.

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“We talked about how we could avoid this, but those words of caution went unheeded, so this is what you have.”

Khan says tensions started brewing in Red Deer in December 2018 when weekly yellow vest rallies started happening downtown.

“I’ve had conversations with those individuals. They come in droves with Islamophobic, xenophobic and racist messages, and with signs that are anti-immigrant and anti-refugee,” says Khan. “We can’t say this past Sunday is something new to our community or a one-off. These individuals have gotten so loud because no one has called them out, and our mayor has seen them and knows about them. They’re right by City Hall.”

Mayor Tara Veer issued a statement on Tuesday regarding what took place on Sunday. She said the City of Red Deer respects Canada’s constitutional rights to assemble, but denounces racism. She also noted “travelling protests have incited division and violence in our city,” before acknowledging political polarity and competing worldviews.

“What we want is action and accountability. Anyone can send thoughts and prayers or make statements of condemnation, but if they don’t follow through with action and meaningful conversation, it’s all null and void,” says Datus. “RCMP is put in a pickle because of how society is, and they say both sides have the right to assemble. But when you have one side saying they want to have a conversation and educate, and the other side making videos and statements threatening violence, harassment and intimidation, and are members of organizations known to be anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, or xenophobic, then the RCMP needs to use some discretion.”

Veer said Thursday that substantial work is underway at the City to make Red Deer welcoming and inclusive, and city council will be discussing over the coming weeks concerns related to racism and violence, she added.

Meantime, organizers say anti-racism events will continue to be held in the city, but Datus is of the opinion that everyone can and must contribute to a shift by having meaningful conversations at home, at work, and with community leaders.

“We experienced a shift when we did our work in Innisfail earlier this summer. After our protest there, the municipality took it upon themselves to say they recognize they’d dropped the ball and would like to make changes,” she explains. “They made a conscious effort to sit down, understand, learn and listen. Much of what we talked about with them were things they thought they knew, but in reality, they had no idea.”

Adds Khan, “The RCMP, the mayor and everyone needs to look at this incident as an opportunity. When we had our first rally in June, we had RCMP officers who kneeled in solidarity. When the City has conversations with grassroots organizations such as ours, make it visible and known to the community because it will show you’re on the right side of history.”

The next chance for the public to engage with Ubuntu is through an anti-oppression workshop happening Sept. 26 in Rimbey.