March against anti-Black racism happening this weekend in Mississauga
Published June 11, 2020 at 7:08 pm
A march to raise awareness of and combat anti-Black racism at Sheridan College has been planned for Mississauga.
The peaceful demonstration–scheduled for Saturday, June 13–will be the second protest against anti-Black racism to take place this month in Mississauga. Last week’s @MississaugaMarch event brought thousands of people–including Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie–to Celebration Square to demand fundamental changes to policing and other structures in Canadian society that discriminate against non-white people.
Demonstrations are being held around the world in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis. The marches and protests are also working to draw attention to and fight systemic discrimination against Black, Indigenous and other racialized people around the world.
The Black Sheridan Solidarity March, which is being organized by the Sheridan Black Student’s Association, will begin at Sheridan’s Hazel McCallion Campus in City Centre and run from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
“The time for change is NOW. We have a call-to-action,” the association wrote on Instagram.
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According to a statement posted to the association’s Instagram account, the protest is being held to address student concerns about not feeling supported enough by the college.
“We need to address the lack of black representation at Sheridan College at different levels including teaching and non-teaching faculty and staff,” the post reads, adding that the protest will also touch upon the cultural relevance of services and systemic biases across various levels at the college.
“This is a 100% peaceful protest against anti-black racism at Sheridan and speaking up as well for all BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour). We’ve heard all the nice words that look good for PR but now we demand action,” the organization says in a post.
Organizers are asking all participants to take COVID-19-related precautions.
“it is really important to us that all our attendees are safe,” a post reads.
“This cause means the world but so does your health, so please come prepared. All attendees must wear a mask and other additional safety items. Lastly, be sure to keep a 6ft distance from one another!”
The demonstrators will be joined by Janet Morrison, Sheridan’s President and Vice-Chancellor, and Jane Ngbobia, Sheridan’s Vice President of Inclusive Communities.
Organizers say Ngbobia will be giving opening remarks.
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