By James Peters / Chad Klassen

Anti-Racism Protest

VIDEO: Protesters march through downtown Kamloops denouncing racism

Jun 4, 2020 | 3:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops residents lent their voices to the Black Lives Matter movement on Thursday. More than 500 people showed up to the rally, which was initially cancelled in the morning by organizers but went ahead anyway as people were determined to speak out against racism.

“I can’t breathe,” said Les Carty at the rally, relaying the final words of 46-year-old George Floyd, who was killed when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin put a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes last Monday (May 25).

Carty can relate to Floyd and his turmoil as an African-Canadian man. The 57 year old addressed the crowd at Riverside Park, outlining his own encounter with the RCMP in Kamloops.

“I was held at gunpoint by the RCMP in my own f—ing backyard,” Carty told the crowd of 500 people at Riverside Park. “Two years ago, March 21, 2018, I got off work early. I figured I’d go and check on my bike because it’s motorcycle season. I am going to make sure the battery’s charged and I don’t have a flat. All the stuff you do, that regular, normal people do. Unfortunately for me, I was seen with my keys trying to get into my shed…I was being watched from across the street by them [the RCMP].”

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of Sept. 30

10h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: Four dogs will die and the owners responsible will get away with it

Oct 04, 2024

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: October 3, 2024

Oct 04, 2024

WATCH: (Video Credit: CFJC Today / Chad Klassen)

Carty was one of several speakers to address a rally that was at first cancelled by organizers, but picked up steam as upwards of 500 people came out to support the anti-racism movement.

“Somebody tried to text and say this event is cancelled and I said ‘what’s cancelled? Cancelled? I got on my shoes and my socks and went out that door,” said speaker Tim Unaegbu. “Until racism has been cancelled, this is not cancelled. It’s not cancelled. Who’s trying to tell me it’s cancelled. I told them if I was going to go to this park and there was only one person here, I’m throwing the football around with them and we’re going to be educating them. Thank you for supporting me.”

Alisa Hopkins, another speaker on stage, added “I can’t breathe has been said too many times from so many people. Why are we only outraged when we see footage of someone dying? Is it because you suddenly feel it?”

The rally brought together people of all ages and colour. These children came all the way from Barriere, wanting to show their support for the Floyd family.

“It’s like I kind of feel his pain when your knee is on someone’s neck, you kind of feel it,” said Shalom Ani, who was sporting a shirt that read ‘I Can’t Breathe.’ “Younger kids like me can still experience extreme racism and get killed for their skin colour.”

Everyone wanted to come out to lend their voices to the Black Lives Matters movement, also highlighting Canada’s history of racism with Indigenous people.

“It breaks my heart, but I couldn’t imagine, as an Indigenous person or person of colour, to live like that,” said rally participant Megan, whose sign read ‘Canada, Your Hands Are Dirty.’ “I will never know that. But what my ancestors did is not what I’m doing.”

Kamloops lawyer Lesra Martin also spoke, leading the crowd in a powerful rendition of “Lean On Me.” It led into a march down Victoria Street, as the hundreds of participants expressed their feelings before settling at the Kamloops RCMP detachment.

They hope this can be a turning point in history in stopping systemic racism in Canada, the U.S., and around the world.