SYDNEY, N.S. — Darnell Kirton says he struggled to keep his emotions in check as a sea of people gathered in the front of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service headquarters Wednesday night to call for an end to racism and police violence against minorities.
More than 1,500 people marched from the Mayflower Mall parking lot across Grand Lake Road on a cool and rainy evening to the police station to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white officer in the U.S. last month.
Kirton, a 29-year-old black man from Whitney Pier, led the procession of people chanting “black lives matter,” and “no justice, no peace.” He said he was overwhelmed by the turnout and the diversity of the people in the crowd.
“It took me everything to hold back tears last night but I knew I had to be strong for my community. That was my biggest fear — breaking down — but I just honestly had to keep it together and be strong because looking out there at all those people being strong and standing there with me, that was all I could do,” Kirton said Thursday.
“The message I received is that we came together last night. I cannot get over how many people came out and supported and how much diversity there was, how well people social-distanced and used masks. Nobody left a piece of garbage around. It was honestly just a beautiful evening.”
People from the local black, Mi’kmaq and international community spoke to the crowd, including Selah Best, a mother from Whitney Pier who described how Floyd’s final moments made her think about her son.
“When I saw him take his last breath, I saw my son. When he’s crying out for his mother, I heard my son crying out for his mother. And I realize that as a mother I brought my kids into a world that is not getting any better. I brought them into a world that I cannot protect them from,” she said. “I do not want to have to teach my children that because of the colour of their skin, the law will not protect them I the same way and justice will not be the same for them. And I do not want to have to teach them that at a certain age it’s safer to run from the police than to them.”
Cape Breton Regional Police were a visible presence at the protest, escorting the marchers across the busy four-lane highway and halting traffic in both directions for the duration of the event.
Chief Robert Walsh denounced the actions Derek Chauvin, who was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck, as well as the other officers who stood by, saying they had all betrayed their oath to protect the public and calling for everyone involved to be held accountable.
“I needed to be here tonight to be with you in this moment. As a police officer, this is very difficult to be here tonight to talk to you about having seen a black man brutally killed by police on TV, but I and all of us need to get comfortable about having uncomfortable conversations or things will never change,” Walsh said. “I want you to know that I see you. I see your grief, I see your frustration and I see your anger about social injustice, and I share my voice against anti-black racism.
“We are in positions of great authority and trust so every day we have to earn the trust of the community that we serve. I give you my commitment that I will do everything that I can to ensure that your police service continues to have well-trained police officers and that they will be held to the highest professional standards so that we do not lose your trust. This is why I’m here tonight. I’m here tonight to be present in this moment with you, to speak out against racism and to take a knee with you to remember George Floyd. Black lives matter.”
Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke wasn’t in attendance. However, he sent a message of support that was read to the crowd.
“Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms says that we’re all equal — it’s written there on paper — but when we lift our heads and open our eyes, equality for all is not what we see. Racism, prejudice, unfounded phobias and hate manage to infiltrate hearts and minds. That said, I think those who have hate for others are the real minority here, and that our strong belief in human rights is bigger and more powerful than they are. Be good to one another, look out for one another. We are in this together. We are stronger together, so let us resolve to make racism a relic of the past so it longer plays a role in our future.”
Kirton told the crowd, many of whom were carrying signs and wearing T-shirts decrying the death of Floyd, it is “mentally draining and overwhelming seeing people of colour killed senselessly day by day, year by year, and generation after generation.”
He said racism isn’t just a problem south of the border.
“Don’t be naïve or ignorant to think what happens in America doesn’t affect people of colour in my community because in my community it takes a village and if one’s hurt, we’re all hurt. It affects us all. Racism exists in Canada. Period. You may not see people gunned daily in the streets but racism is here and I can’t stand by and do nothing anymore,” he said.
“This is why we march — for the past, for the present, for the future, to be heard, for the voiceless, and to show our support.”
The protest concluded with people going down on one knee for eight minutes and 47 seconds — the amount of time Chauvin, who has since been charged with second-degree murder, was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck.
Most in attendance raised one arm with a closed fist in the air — a symbol of solidarity and support with the black power movement — and began repeating “I can’t breathe,” until the protest ended peacefully and everyone returned to the mall and slowly began exiting the crowded parking lot.
