About 100 people lined Highway 26 in Thornbury today for a Black Lives Matter demonstration.
Demonstrators held signs stating “racism and hate have no place here,” “no freedom until we’re equal, yes even in small town Ontario,” and “stand together against white supremacy in Grey Bruce.”
Cars driving by honked in support, including one OPP cruiser.
The event was anchored in the Frank and Jessie Smith Memorial Park where people could use the supplies provided to make signs. Masks were also available to anyone who didn’t have their own and volunteers reminded people to keep their distance from each other.
The demonstration runs today until 3 p.m.
Today’s event organizer Jaime Sirna works in The Blue Mountains and lives in Markdale. She is an animal rights activist and wanted to turn her skills and experience in protesting and planning demonstrations to Black Lives Matter and anti-racism.
She said she was inspired by a post shared by a black friend encouraging people to “do the work.”
She couldn’t find a protest any closer than Barrie or Owen Sound, so she planned one. (There has since been an event planned for Collingwood on June 8.)
“The main message is that Black Lives Matter, that’s the focus today,” said Sirna.
She said it was important to have a demonstration in Thornbury, not only for solidarity, but because it is “predominantly a white community.”
“White privilege is a real thing, we need to be using our voices…in a way that will help everybody,” she said. “I’m just hoping for a unified message that Thornbury rejects racism.”
While racism may not be obvious in places like The Blue Mountains, Sirna said it’s important to “unlearn and pick apart our systems.”
Sirna cited a Tim Mcilrath quote that states “Real revolution starts at learning. If you’re not angry, then you are not paying attention.”
She said though it’s been around for 15 to 20 years, the message of Mcilraith’s words still ring true.
“You probably just don’t notice injustice if you don’t think it’s there,” said Sirna.
In planning the event, Sirna has received support from local OPP and from the town, which offered municipal-owned parkland beside the town hall for the demonstration.
“Most of the red tape is just COVID regulations,” said Sirna. “Everybody is very happy for us to be out there speaking our voice.”
To have the demonstration, she had to agree to no more than 50 people on the parkland, and had to pre-notify emergency services. There will be volunteers and bylaw officers reminding people to keep their distance and not gather in groups of more than five people.
Those who ignore repeated warnings about physical distancing may be ticketed. But that’s about the only ticketing Sirna expects, and she’s not anticipating any violence.
“Having a demonstration here and being able to do that while I feel 100-per-cent safe and confident that it will be safe and peaceful is a privilege in itself,” she said. “To be able to stand in solidarity…it’s important.”
Sirna is encouraging people to donate to and learn from the Sheffield Park Black History and Cultural Museum, which is located in Clarksburg. You can learn more about the Sheffield family and the museum here.
