Beachergoers celebrated diversity and community spirit Sunday in response to a hateful incident this month in Chester Basin.
“It’s really important to stand up for people with Black Lives Matter because they need our support and help right now,” said Mallary Myra, who with her two sons, attended an antiracism picnic along with hundreds of others on a windblown but sunny day at Hutt Beach.
“I’m raising two young sons and I want them to know how important it is that the colour of people’s skin doesn't matter.”
The picnic was organized by local residents in response to a racist incident on Aug. 15. A family from Halifax, which included an African Nova Scotia man and his son, had a horrifying encounter with a group of teens who jumped out of a truck and swung around a noose.
Mustapha Maynard of Bridgewater also came to the picnic with his two sons. The African Nova Scotian, who moved here from St. Catharines, Ont., said he’s experienced racism all his life and the incident didn’t come as a shock.
“I grew up with it almost every day going to school. But I find the big difference here is that adults and some of the children aren’t educated about the background (of African Nova Scotians). ... They don’t know the history behind it and how that will affect people.”
Maynard, who admitted he didn’t know Hutt Beach existed before reports of the incident, said he attended the picnic to support one of the organizers, 17-year-old Peter Fisk of Chester Basin.
“I know Peter very well from myself coaching at Park View High School and it’s just good to bring this awareness to the community.”
A beaming Fisk, who organized the event with Lauryn Guest, said he was very happy with the turnout for the picnic, which included music, goodies from local eateries such as the Biscuit Eater and speeches.
“We’re getting a lot of people, all different kinds of creeds, religion, races, which is what we really wanted,” he said.
As a young African Nova Scotian, who was born in Halifax, he said he's also dealt with racism his whole life, from people using derogatory terms to more subtle discrimination such as being followed at the grocery store.
While he and Guest organized the picnic to combat those attitudes, they also wanted to highlight the progressive spirit of many people in Chester Basin.
"There is a community around here that is in support of events like this happening. I do strongly believe it is a small minority of people who are going to be racist, of course. But it is something that we're going to need to be aware of ... to create a safer spot for BIPOC people."
Greg Dean, who was the target of the incident along with his 13-year-old son, attended the celebration and called the community gathering “a beautiful thing."
“The youths down here are really showing what they got going on, they’re showing that just because you’re 17 doesn’t mean you can’t change the world. I love it. I love it.”
