Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Daily News Letter Sparks Protest


 Chief Douglas White III Addresses Rally

A letter to the editor over the name of Mr. Bill McRitchie and published in the Daily News on Monday brought a swift response by way of a protest rally which drew 70+ folk on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in front of the newspaper office.

Conspicuously absent were any representatives of the paper who remained behind locked front doors for the duration of the rally which lasted approximately one and a half hours. One or two staffers were seen quickly entering the building via the back door, apparently not interested in covering the 'news' story at their front door.

Chief Douglas White welcomed those attending and expressed his concern for the harm that racist comments cause his people and his deep hope that his children never have to experience the type of ignorance and intolerance demonstrated a few short years ago. He further expressed his disappointment that the local Daily has once again published what is considered a racist article which they could have chosen to not print.

During the rally many speakers told their stories of how they have been mistreated through the ignorance of racism and why they feel so strongly it must stop before another generation is affected. The publishing of such material is something they intend to see stopped at the Daily News, calling for advertising boycotts, letter writing campaigns and the use of social media to bring pressure to bear against the paper.

Some in the crowd questioned the timing of the publishing of this letter, right on the heels of a Week of Reconciliation in the province. While the group was primarily First Nations, there was a solid showing of support by non-aboriginals as well.

It is hoped that words such as reconciliation will actually come to mean something so that past wrongs can be made right and that local children will always be able to carry their heads high, secure in the knowledge of their true worth.


allvoices

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for covering this.

    Frank Moher

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for taking time to bring this to more people. I believe that many in our community stand with our indigenous sisters and brothers in denouncing what the Nanaimo Daily News continues to do, perpetuate systemic racism. The campaign has just begun. There will be accountability, there is no impunity for this continued harm. In solidarity always.

    ReplyDelete

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