Letter to the Editor

Dear City of Cranbrook…

As a young person who has grown up in the City of Cranbrook, I do not understand. When I first heard about the protests surrounding George Floyd’s death it was through social media sites. I saw videos of buildings being lit on fire, shopping centres being looted, and businesses being destroyed.

My initial reaction to these video clips was sadness, frustration, and to some degree… disgust. My main thought was “I can’t get behind a protest that encourages violence and destruction” and “I am not a racist, so why does this have to clog my newsfeed?” These thoughts had stuck with me for a few days and I am not afraid to admit it.

The problem with my initial thought is that I was persuaded by the small group of people that set out to take advantage of a vulnerable situation. I focused only on the bad and not the incredible amount of good that is happening. The fact is that the majority of protestors are operating peacefully and in a direction towards change. The black community is exhausted. They are exhausted from having to fight through systemic racism in every aspect of society including the criminal justice system that is supposed to protect them. It is time for change.

Now, growing up in Cranbrook does not offer a significant amount of exposure and education on black culture. However, our community is full of disadvantage and inequity, and it is on our streets, hidden behind closed doors, and was pushed off onto reservations. There is a history of systemic racism against non-Caucasian citizens and a symbol of this racism is tied historically to the St. Eugene residential school.

My initial thoughts to the Black Lives Matter Movement that is happening globally were wrong and uneducated.

That is because I do not understand what it is like to try and grow and develop into a healthy person while society is oriented in a way that prevents this. My reason for writing this letter is to help others in our community create a better understanding of what is happening in the world because as our community grows, and we become more diverse, it will be important for the citizens of Cranbrook to avoid ignorance, promote equality and equity, and enact change. Because many of us who have grown up in Cranbrook do not understand.

Sincerely, A caring citizen…

Brody Pocha,

Cranbrook

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