Winnipeg group Black Space to hold Black Lives Matter vigil at legislature

A Winnipeg group says it isholding a vigil at the Manitoba Legislature next weekin response to black"lives lost due to police brutality" in the U.S. and a conversation on race stemming from the recent Toronto Pride Parade.

Alexa Potashnik is thehead organizer for Black Space, a grassroots group that formed in Winnipeg in March followingdeadlyincidents involving police and black Americans.

After the deaths of Alton Sterlingin Louisianaand Philando Castile in Minnesota two black men shot to death by police in the U.S. in a span of48 hours as well as a Black Lives Matter protest that interrupted the Toronto Pride Parade, Potashnik said the group wanted to do something to show support for black victims of discrimination at home and abroad.

On July 3, a Black Lives Matter group based in Toronto brought the Pride Parade to a halt during a sit-in protest. The group arguedagainst the inclusion of police officers in the parade and made demands that Pride do more to be inclusive of LGBTpeople of colour.

Then, on July 7, a blackarmy veteran opened fire on police in Dallas, Texas, killing five and wounding seven others during a Black Lives Matter protest.

'Being black in Winnipeg is different'

Winnipeg ishome to about 17,400 self-identifiedblack peoplecompared to about218,000in Toronto, according to a Statistics Canada.

Thenature of the discrimination faced byblack communities in each city differs, Potashnik said.

"Being black in Winnipeg is different than being black in Toronto or being black in New York or being black in Dallas,"Potashniksaid. "Our racism in Winnipeg and Canada is much more polite and direct. It's not so overt [as] when you go to the United States."

Potashnik, whoattends the University of Winnipegand is alsothe racializedstudent commissioner for the Manitoba chapter of theCanadian Federation of Students, said based on the hardships black people continue to face, it's time they have a louder voice.

"I just want, especially black people and people of colour to really wake up in the city and realize that we need to come together and start supporting each other as a collective," Potashnik said. "Other thanSoca Reggae Fest and Folklorama, and very stereotypical cultural events, there's no platform or avenue for black people to be celebrated in the city."

About 700people on Facebook say they are interested in attending the event, with another600 who have confirmed they intend to go. It takes place July 20 at the legislature from 7 p.m.to 11 p.m.