Police violence in northern B.C. adds local focus to Black Lives Matter rallies in Prince George

Recent incidents of police violence in northern B.C. were on the minds of manyat apair of Black Lives Matter rallies in Prince George, whichdrew crowds of roughly 700 people each on Friday and Saturday.

The rallies'success has led to talk of forming a Black Lives Matter chapter in the city, focused on racial injustice and discrimination.

"It's beyond what's happening in the U.S.," said Nathan Andrews, an assistant professor at the University of Northern B.C. "We all know racism happens in Canada, too, and in northern B.C. and in Prince George. So I think putting together a body like this would help raise awareness, but it would also help tacklethe issue from a very strategic point of view."

Andrews spoke at Saturday's event heldunder the Mr. PG statue, which welcomes visitors to the city.Otherspeakers shared stories of anti-black racism, ranging from being followed by security in stores to being complimented for being able to speak English.

'We need a revolution': Chief

A similar Black Lives Matter event outside city hall Friday also focused onIndigenous lives, with signs demanding justice forEverett Patrick and Dale Culver,two men who havedied in RCMP custody in Prince George in recent years.

Culver's 17-year-old daughter, Lily Speed-Namox, asked foran apology in the death of her father, "as well as what happened to the all the other Indigenous and African-American people of the world ... It's not fair, it's not just, and it should not happen."

Culver died in 2017 after being arrested on suspicion of "casing vehicles." He was pepper sprayed, had trouble breathing and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital. He was 35.

B.C.'sindependent police watchdog has forwarded a report toCrown counsel asking it to consider charges against fiveofficers, arguing "reasonable grounds exist to believe that two officers may have committed offences in relation to use of force and three others may have committed offences regarding obstruction of justice." It's alleged police told witnesses to delete video footage of Culver's arrest.

"These RCMP are still actively working and quote-unquote protecting and serving our community," Speed-Namox said.

An investigation is still underway following the Aprildeath of 42-year-old Everett Patrick, a member of the Lake Babine Nation.

The officers in both cases are still on duty, as is the Mountie who last month wasruled to have"assaulted and battered" a 61-year-oldWet'suwet'en elder in nearby Smithers after he incorrectly suspected her of shoplifting.

"When will it end?" askedB.C. Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegeeat Friday's event. "We don't need a reform of a broken system. We need a revolution of hearts, minds and souls to create justice and equality."

History of race-based policing

A CBC investigation in 2018 into deadly use of forceby police found that black and Indigenous people "are overwhelmingly over-represented" in deadly police encounters.

The reasons behind that are rooted in the very founding of the country, saidhistorian Jonathan Swaigner.

Swaigner's research uncovered a story from 1921, when Prince George's city council directed police to target "coloured undesirables," in an area they referred to as "N--gertown."

"It's scapegoating, plain and simple," Swaigner said. "It's not just an American thing, it's part of the Canadian historical tradition."

Andrewssaid Canada needs to acknowledge thishistory in order to move forward.

"I don't want to be 100 years old and see my grandchildren rallying about these same issues," he said.