World reacts to Ferguson events

(Updated)
The eyes of the world are looking in at the story unfolding in Ferguson, Missouri where 24 hours ago chaos, looting and violence was widespread. But the reaction to a grand jury’s decision not to press charges against officer Darren Wilson who shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown extends beyond Ferguson.

Tonight, there was a rally in our region to express solidarity with the people angry in Missouri, and also to highlight problems with race here in Canada.

The fury in Ferguson has hit a sensitive nerve across the United States and here in Canada as well. There were large rallies in both Ottawa, and Toronto Tuesday evening to show support for the family of Michael Brown, and the black community in Ferguson.

But there was another prominent theme in both demonstrations.

There was concern, controlled anger, in the loud, but peaceful crowd. But there was also a clear message for Canadians and especially for residents of the GTA. That being — don’t believe for a minute that it couldn’t happen here.

The theme of this massive rally was pretty simple:

And they matter, whether they are in Ferguson Missouri, or right here in the GTA.

And one that organizers of this rally say, is growing here in Canada.

Janaya Khan, rally organizer “If you’re looking at ratios, based on incarceration rates we’re moving in the same direction. Based on the last 10 years, you have about an 80 percent increase in African-Canadians and black Caribbean people who are incarcerated in Canadian prisons.”

And they point to the recent shooting, in September, of 33-year old Jermaine Carby of Brampton, by Peel Regional Police as a case with parallels to that of Michael Brown.
The family says the SIU still hasn’t told them the name of the officer that shot and killed Carby, or any details of the incident 9 weeks, after it happened.

Khan: “Something’s changed, and we need to really look at what that is. Is it policy? Is it systemic racism and violence manifesting itself in different ways?”

Whatever it may be, Luke Daniel believes that Canadians in general have been somewhat blind to the issue: “I think the general white population needs to be more educated about our history, and where we come from.”

And others say, it’s not borders that matter so much, as a common concern for the human condition.

“I’m in Toronto. Those people are in Missouri, but we still care. It’s not where you live — it’s who you are.”

(What would you like to see come out of this rally tonight?) “Peace.”

The Toronto rally differed from Ferguson in that it was large, and peaceful. There were very few police in the area, observing the roughly three-thousand people who gathered across from the U.S Embassy on University Avenue.

And there was another difference as well. The crowd was enormously diverse, encompassing large numbers. Not just those from the black community, but those from almost every community in the city.