As anti-racism protests continue around the world following the police killing of George Floyd, a New Westminster councillor is calling on the city to show compassion for its black employees and citizens.
Floyd, an unarmed black man, pleaded “I can’t breathe” as a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes and three others helped restrain him or stood by as he lay dying on the street. Floyd’s death has sparked anti-racism protests across the United States and in cities around the world, including Vancouver.
Coun. Nadine Nakagawa raised the issue at Monday’s council meeting, where council was discussing the City of New Westminster’s COVID-19 recovery plan.
“I think it has to be said – I think we have to place ourselves in this moment, that it’s not just COVID response right now,” she said. “There is an outpouring of grief and activism in the black community and by allies. I just want to name that right now because it seems to continue to talk as if this isn’t happening is a huge omission.”
Nakagawa said she’s heard from the members of the local black community that they always feel invisible.
“They are hyper visible in that they are over-policed but then they are invisible within our communities. I just want to name that right now because it just seems like we are doing that right in this moment,” she said. “I recognize that this conversation isn’t about that but I just wanted to mention that.”
Nakagawa said the City of New Westminster has black employees, many who are feeling a huge amount of grief.
“They are deeply grieving and deeply fighting to both be seen and be heard, and also to take care of each other,” she said at the June 1 council meeting. “I just hope our employees in the City of New West, I hope that we as an organization are recognizing that in this moment, right now, today, that if black employees can’t make it to work today, that we can understand that and respond with as much compassion as we have shown, I think, talking about COVID response.”
