Rodney Diverlus

“Black people are rarely thought of as belonging in Canadian society.1 In fact, Black people often experience this unbelonging through seemingly benign questions such as “where are you really from?”
― Rodney Diverlus, Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada

“While we appreciate the solidarity shown by White and Non-Black POC, we want to remind folks of some things:

Please refrain from taking up space in all ways possible. Remember that you are there in support of Black folks, so should never be at the centre of anything
Refrain from speaking to the media. Black voices are crucial to this
Stand behind Black folks or between us and the police If you see a cop harassing a Black person, come in and engage (chances are they are least likely to arrest you).

The call was widely criticized by media internationally, in a raw reminder that the dominant society is more interested in how we mourn and the spectacle of our mourning than in what we mourn and the conditions of our lives.”
― Rodney Diverlus, Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada