Shocking display of racism in Niagara region

A rally in Niagara-on-the-Lake was held to recognize African Canadians who are buried at a cemetery in the town.

The Burial Ground in Niagara-on-the-Lake has a name that seems out of step with the times, but the two grave markers still standing are of white men who had a church there in the 1800s.

Most people who went to the church were black, but their grave markers are now nowhere to be seen.

James Russell says the headstones were knocked down and covered in the 1970s by the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

His campaign now is to have the town restore the headstones, 19 of them, to their graves marked with flags.

Not many people turned out for Russell’s rally today, but he says that can be expected.

Russell says he’s going to continue his campaign for recognition of the people whose graves lie in that burial ground.