Black Community Calls for Action to Address Anti-Black Racism

By Neil Armstrong

Dave D'Oyen speaking outside the Children's Aid Society of Toronto at the rally of the Emancipation Day March

A march to celebrate Emancipation Day was also a rallying call from the Black community for action to address anti-Black racism in key systems such as child welfare, policing, justice, arts and culture, education and healthcare.

Organized by Dave D’Oyen and supported by several organizations, it followed two recent public events they held outside Old City Hall and Queen’s Park calling on the municipal and provincial levels of government to implement the recommendations of over 25 years of reports, reviews and studies pertaining to the Black community.

Held on August 1 – Emancipation Day -- the march began at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto on Isabella Street and ended at Queen’s Park, after making several pivotal stops along the route where speakers addressed issues of anti-Black racism in specific sectors.

The points along the route included the Toronto Police Service Headquarters, Old City Hall, National Ballet of Canada, Ministry of Education, and Mount Sinai Hospital.

Among the speakers at the rally before the march were Irwin Elman, former Ontario independent advocate for children and youth; Bishop Ransford Jones of Destiny Gospel Centre; and representatives of CHEERS, a community-based mentorship program at Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre.

D’Oyen told those in attendance that they were carrying the baton given to them by John Lewis and declared that, “we will march on Toronto for good trouble, necessary trouble.”

“We will honour Bob Marley’s charge to us, “Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight. We sick an tired of your ism schism game.” Today is not the day for “Don’t worry about a thing” because every little thing is not alright.” 

Noting that 2020 marks 186 years since the abolition of slavery in Canada, D’Oyen thanked the ancestors “for fighting for their freedom and for fighting that we may be free.”

“Project Liberation, however, remains incomplete. The knees of injustice, oppression and anti-Black racism have been and still are on our necks. Today we are serving notice that they will and they must come off. We are taking to the streets because enough is enough. 

“Some will say that today was to be a day of celebration. To borrow from a Jamaican artiste, “Do you see anything fi smile bout?” “

He told those gathered that they were are on a serious mission. “We are still in the fight for our lives. As Jamaican people would say, “Wi nuh come ya fi talk. Wi nuh come ya fi igle.” “

The march organizer said millions of people flooded the streets to celebrate the Toronto Raptors winning the NBA championship and every year millions come to Toronto for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. 

“If we are serious about our liberation and true equality for Black people, millions should be here. COVID-19 may have deprived of us the chance to wine and guh down low, chip and come up slow, but that’s because we have been called to be together for a greater purpose – to trample on and eradicate the wickedness that is anti-Black racism.”

Left-right: Hugh Simmonds of New Humanity Initiative; Kevin Ormsby, Artistic Director of KasheDance; Yvette Blackburn of Global Jamaica Diaspora Council - Canada; Dave D'Oyen and Jacqueline Edwards, President of the Association of Black Law Enforcers (ABLE): all speakers at the Emancipation Day March on August 1, 2020

Speaking in front of the police headquarters, Audrey Campbell, former co-chair of the Police and Community Engagement Review (PACER) advisory committee, mentioned the work that she and other volunteers did on the PACER Report and that several recommendations where acted on except the ‘know your rights’ one aimed at community members. She recently spoke to the interim police chief James Ramer about this. Louis March presented a roll call of the many people killed by police over the years.

Outside the National Ballet of Canada, Nicholas Rose called out the company for discriminating against him and other dancers. Karen Carter of Black Artists’ Network in Dialogue (BAND) urged everyone to support Black arts organizations, like hers, Nia Centre for the Arts, and others noting that it is important to “create your own table” instead of seeking to be at the table of others.

Just outside the Ministry of Education, Kathy McDonald spoke about the change happening at the Peel District School Board and how her perseverance resulted in “change happening now” and that change can occur quickly and not necessarily after a long period. 

Speaking at Queen’s Park, Kevin Ormsby encouraged everyone to take the fight against anti-Black racism here to also the nations where they were born as well, in the Caribbean, in Africa, Brazil “to find the spaces where anti-Black racism is systemic because of colonialism and slavery and need to be dismantled.”

 Citing Carter who spoke about creative resistance, Ormsby said “how we understand culture and the arts starts with us. This is a movement of resistance.”

He said the day of emancipation is also a day of celebration and protest because protest is celebration. 

Quoting Marcus Garvey and the lyrics of Bob Marley, Ormsby charged those in attendance to understand their confidence, contribution and history and to move forward in education, the arts, activism, and politics.

Marchers were encouraged to bring signs and flags, and to wear masks, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The supporting organizations of the march were:A Different Booklist Cultural Centre,Black Health Alliance,Black Medical Students’ Association at University of Toronto,Destiny Gospel Centre,Global Jamaica Diaspora Council,Jamaican Canadian Association,Ma’at Legal Services,Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators, and Zero Gun Violence Movement.

Left-right: Laura Mae Lindo, MPP Kitchener Centre; Sandra Young, JCA Membership Chair; Adaoma Patterson, JCA President; and Aubrey Campbell, former Co-Chair of the PACER Advisory Committee

A LIST OF SPEAKERS AT THE EMANCIPATION DAY MARCH

Opening

Dave D’Oyen

Bishop Ransford Jones, Destiny Gospel Centre

Child Welfare

• Alisha Brooks and Rachael Richards, CHEERS outreach workers
• Tamla Matthews
• Irwin Elman, former Ontario Child Advocate

Policing

• Audrey Campbell, Police and Community Engagement Review Advisory Committee
• Laura Mae Lindo, MPP, Kitchener Centre, Ontario New Democratic Party
• Jacqueline Edwards, Association of Black Law Enforcers

Justice

• Knia Singh, Ma’at Legal Services
• Dr. Akwatu Khenti
• Louis March, Zero Gun Violence Movement

Arts and Culture

• Nicholas Rose
• Karen Carter, Black Artists Networks’ In Dialogue

Education

• Kathy McDonald, Peel District School Board
• Hugh Simmonds, New Humanity Initiative
• Mitzie Hunter, MPP, Scarborough-Guildwood, Ontario Liberal Party
• Amani Ausar, Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators

Healthcare

• Seana Adams and Semir Bulle, Black Medical Students’ Association
• Donna Alexander, Black Mental Health Canada
• Paul Bailey, Black Health Alliance

Closing

Kevin Ormsby

Adaoma Patterson, Jamaican Canadian Association

Yvette Blackburn, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council – Canada