Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd on April 20. While the verdict was celebrated as justice, many also said the novel guilty verdict does nothing to address the routine nature of police violence. In fact, since testimony started in the Chauvin trial, 64 people in the United States were killed by police: over half were Black and Latinx.
Years of research and community reporting have shown how Black, Indigenous and racialized people experience violence by police or over-policing. But research also shows a chronic under-policing as well. To be clear, this is not an article about the need for more policing. It is an article that outlines the different, and very damaging, ways in which racialized policing can play out.
Try refreshing your browser, or Letters: Saskatoon shouldn t rush design process for new downtown library Back to video
While observing the approval process, I found myself lacking sufficient knowledge of the need to spend more than $100 million on a new downtown library.
However, during a visit to Calgary last fall, I toured its recently constructed downtown library with a cost over $200 million.
During the tour, I visited with library employees and discussed the benefits of the new library in both its design features and programs offered.
I came away from the tour with respect for what a new state-of-the-art downtown library can offer and the effect it can have on its community.
First Nations organizations and individuals are urging the province to do more to combat systemic racism in Saskatchewan.
Earlier this month the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations wrote to Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty calling on him to conduct a public inquiry into systemic racism within the provincial government.
“We believe that it is important the government acknowledge that systemic racism exists and that we must look for solutions to ensure that First Nations can assert our inherent Treaty Rights safely and without harassment,” said FSIN Vice-Chief Heather Bear.
A spokesperson for Mr. Mirasty’s office explained that he did receive a letter from the FSIN, but forwarded to the provincial government as he does not comment on public policy issues.
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The announcement by Facebook last month that it will give users including news outlets more control over comments is long overdue and good news for Canadian media outlets.
The move comes after a 2019 Australian court decision that found several media companies in that country liable for defamatory comments written under news stories that had been posted on their Facebook pages.
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Try refreshing your browser, or Editorial: Giving media control over Facebook comments long overdue Back to video
Online comments on stories can generate healthy debates and provide new insight. But, too often, comments can also be hateful and even criminal.
Editorial: Giving media control over Facebook comments long overdue thestarphoenix.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thestarphoenix.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.