Three years after the death of George Floyd in the United States, dozens of people gathered in Montreal on Saturday to denounce racial profiling in Quebec and demand an end to random police arrests.
Things have not changed so much in the province since the death three years ago of George Floyd in Minneapolis in the United States, according to Cassandra Exumé, the general coordinator of Hoodstock, an organization that fights against social inequalities.
Recall that the last moments of George Floyd were filmed, in 2020. He died during an arrest where a white police officer kept him on the ground with his knee on his neck. The latter, Derek Chauvin, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 21 years in prison, in 2022. The death of George Floyd had triggered monster demonstrations in the United States and a global movement against racism and police brutality.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Cassandra Exumé, General Coordinator of Hoodstock
“Even though it’s been three years, we must not forget what happened,” protester Kim Burley told The Canadian Press on Saturday. “Every day you have to remember that this is not something in the past, it is still going on, then this (the death of George Floyd) is just the tip of the iceberg. »
For Mbaï-Hadji Mbaïrewaye, it was important to participate in the march to ask the authorities for changes within the police force.
“The practice of police racial profiling undermines our humanities. To the humanity of black, racialized, indigenous people, etc. It’s important to walk to reaffirm our dignity, our humanity,” he said.
“Yes, there are things that have evolved, believes Mme Exumerated. There are allies who were more muted and who are mobilizing, there is more media exposure. »
On the other hand, the police arrests which target more racialized groups are still there in Quebec, she observes. “What we want is a change in approach, methods, ultimately culture of the police,” she adds.
The end of police arrests demanded
Saturday’s march was organized by several organizations, including the League for Rights and Freedoms, Lakay, the Red Coalition, the 1629 Collective, Hoodstock and the Collective for the Fight and Action against Racism-CLAR.
The demonstrators first met at Place Émilie-Gamelin around 1 p.m., at the corner of rue Berri and boulevard de Maisonneuve in Montreal. They then took the street to the east. They stopped near the SPVM headquarters to make several speeches.
They demand that Quebec put an end to police arrests, in particular after the decision of the Superior Court to this effect rendered last October, explains Laura Doyle Péan, of the Collectif 1629.
Judge Yergeau had said that the rule of law and statutory provisions authorizing traffic stops without real cause violated citizens’ rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The decision was challenged by Quebec in November, and is currently before the Court of Appeal.
However, in mid-March, the government of François Legault reopened the Police Act to supervise – and not prohibit – random arrests. An unacceptable decision, according to the various organizations gathered on Saturday.
Jean Marie Desfontaines, present on the spot, claims to have experienced repeated arrests in Quebec, where he lives. “Whether by car, by bike, on foot. At any time, ”he describes.
A mix among the demonstrators
Several white people are also among the small crowd that circulated in Montreal on Saturday afternoon. “We would like racial profiling to drop, and for the government to recognize systemic racism,” explains Élodie Combes, project manager at the Round Table of Organizations Serving Refugees and Immigrants (TCRI).
At the back of the protest, an American holds a sign that reads “Black. and driving”. Mark Sherman, 72, was in Montreal on vacation. Originally from Minneapolis, the death of George Floyd still upsets him, three years later.
“I feel really sad, he explains in English, visibly moved. Because we haven’t solved this problem of racism against blacks, against aboriginals. We came because we thought it was important to demonstrate against this racism which continues, ”he adds.
With The Canadian Press