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MLA Report - June 16, 2020

Fighting against systemic oppression and racism
danielle adams column headshot

The murder of George Floyd was an inhumane and painful reminder of the injustice that black people, Indigenous people, and people of colour still face, and of the systemic racism which is still present in many of our institutions today.  

People across the world have risen in protest, rallies and peaceful gatherings against systematic and strategic oppression including here in Thompson. The Black Lives Matter protest here at home was organized by young Indigenous women who joined many around the world calling on governments of all stripes to examine the way in which Indigenous and people of colour communities are policed. I was happy to see the community of Thompson come out and demonstrate their willingness to be an ally. 

Racism has been a lived experience for many in our community of Thompson. Colonialism has created longstanding systemic racism in our province and our country that we need to continue address and dismantle. 

Now more than ever, it is important for us all to unite against these inequities and educate ourselves on the historical and existing oppression impacting racialized groups. When people stand as silent bystanders, they become complicit and allow injustices to continue. To be an effective ally we need to inform and educate ourselves on systemic oppression and generate discussions to bring awareness to the issue and educate others. 

We have a collective responsibility to follow the murder of George Floyd with real change in how law enforcement functions in our communities. Legislators need to change the policies and regulations that allow violent acts of racial injustice to continue and go unpunished. We need better accountability and transparency in the systems that perpetuate and inflict racism in our communities. 

Manitoba needs a government that is willing to make real meaningful investments in health, poverty reduction, and wellness in order to best serve our communities safety and address racial injustice.

Stay informed and stay connected. Please feel free to call my office at 204-677-2744 with any questions or concerns or email them to Danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.ca. 

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