Black Lives Matter rally in Regina draws many

One of the biggest rallies outside of the Saskatchewan Legislature in recent memory happened Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of citizens stood on the steps and sidewalks in front of the provincial landmark holding custom made signs displaying words of encouragement and frustration, chanting and sharing speeches.

One of the organizers, Libin Salad, said it was heartwarming to see all the support, but it was also heartbreaking.

“This shouldn’t be happening, we shouldn’t have to talk about this at all. It should be a normal life for us,” explained Salad.

Tuesday’s event was put together thanks to four black women – including Salad – who began making phone calls on Sunday to get the ball rolling. It meant a lot of coordinating and help from the community, but in the end, hundreds of people from Regina and other communities in the province came out to show their support.

For Salad, it’s about addressing the issues and making changes. She said with people protesting across North America, they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to have a peaceful event locally.

“We decided enough is enough. People need to know our stories as well,” added Salad. “We need to share our opinions and what needs to change in our society or within our authorities’ power to actually make a change.”

Two more rallies are expected in the coming days with one scheduled for Friday and another one on Sunday.

A chalk drawing of George Floyd created by Regina artist Zoe Stradeski in front of the legislative building in Regina. She was given permission by her MLA Nicole Sarauer to draw the night before the rally. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)

The rally, which comes in the aftermath of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck while he was handcuffed for nine minutes in Minneapolis last month, was one of many that are being held across Canada.

Just before the rally started, Regina Police sent out a message via its social media accounts to condemn the actions of their counterparts in Minneapolis while saying they are amongst many calling for an end to racism.