FERGUS – Hundreds of protesters turned out to march in Fergus’ Black Lives Matter protest Saturday.
The protest, organized by Kyra Nankivell and Maddy Smith, started in Victoria Park near downtown Fergus with speakers.
Nankivell and Carlen Golding spoke about their experiences growing up Black in Centre Wellington, a community that is largely white.
“The amount of times I’ve been called the n-word here in town growing up as a little kid is disgusting,” Golding told the crowd.
“Growing up as a person of colour here, there’s a handful of other people of colour here. So I never really felt normal but as I grew up I realized there’s no such thing as normal, no two people are the same.”
He said he felt the community could do a better job of making all people regardless of race, gender or sexuality identity feel welcome.
Erick Baptiste, originally from Florida, said he saw his Haitian father accused of being an unlawful citizen by ICE as a six-year-old. His family moved to Canada afterwards seeking a more welcoming country.
However, he called the idea of Canada being a more accepting place than the US a facade.
“My mother goes to work and gets called the n-word and a whole lot more all day,” Baptiste told the crowd. “My mother literally believes she’s powerless about it … just because of the colour of her skin. It’s not just her, it’s many others that are Black in this community.”
The march, led by Nankivell and Baptiste, stopped traffic throughout Fergus. Nankivell said she was happy with what she figured to be a 400 person turnout.
“I honestly didn’t think this many people would come and I’m so happy and overwhelmed with joy,” Nankivell said. “The people in their cars even were part of the protest whether they like it or not because we were chanting right beside them.”
Baptiste said he was moved by the support from those who marched with them.
“A couple days before this I would get dirty looks walking down the street,” Baptiste said. “Coming out here today just hit me really deep in my heart. I really hope that our message goes through.”
Those in cars who stopped were mostly supportive but a few negative comments were thrown towards the protestors. Nankivell said what they think doesn’t matter.
“If you still don’t get it, it doesn’t matter because we’re about to roll this movement over you anyways,” Nankivell said. “Sorry, times are changing, you gotta get with the program.”
Since sharing her negative experience as a Black student at Centre Wellington District High School, Nankivell said the school board has reached out to her and she’s confident this movement can spark real change in the community.
“I hope this conversation continues and we can actually change things in the school, our community and government,” Nankivell said. “They’re so many people who are now empowered and ready to actually make a change.”
