‘If we do nothing, nothing changes’

People gather for anti-racism rally in Baden

A peaceful anti-racism rally was held in Baden on Saturday morning in response to White Lives Matter posters that were found posted in Wilmot Township.

“I’m here today to show support for our community and show that we won’t tolerate racism,” said Angela Skelton, who attended the event held on the grounds of Castle Kilbride National Historic Site.

“As a queer cis-gendered white woman, and a white mother, I need to stand up for what’s right and speak out against inequality,” said attendee Courtney Henrich. “If we do nothing, nothing changes.”

“Those posting White Lives Matter in our neighbourhood are not welcome here,” said attendee Sarah Madeley.

The rally was organized by grassroots groups including Wilmot Anti-Racism Solidarity Movement, after White Lives Matter posters were found in the township last month. The White Lives Matter posters advertised a march for Saturday morning, although no location was specified and it does not appear to have materialized in Wilmot.

The anti-racism rally’s organizers offered people a number of ways to participate in the Saturday event. People could tune in online as organizers livestreamed from the “picnic for change” at Castle Kilbride.

Supporters were encouraged to participate in a car rally and drive between Wilmot’s parks. Vehicles drove by the picnic and drivers honked in support. One sport utility vehicle had a cardboard sign taped to a door reading, “Make Wilmot inclusive for all.”

“It’s beautiful,” said rally spokesperson, Aashay Dalvi about the event. “Everybody is wearing a mask, everybody is following COVID safety protocols, households are restricted to themselves, everybody is metres apart.”

In an online broadcast that was played over speakers at the in-person event, anti-racism experts and community leaders spoke about the importance of change and fighting racism.

Dalvi said the goal of the rally is to “encourage residents of this township to walk out of this rally emailing their council members, emailing their decision makers, emailing their community leaders to actually create space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) voices.”

“We are trying to remind people that it’s time we transformed Wilmot toward pursuing anti-racism,” said Dalvi.

About 70 people were at Castle Kilbride at the height of the event. People brought chairs and picnic blankets and an organizer walked around the space making sure people stood a safe distance apart from one another.

People brought homemade signs with messages that read: “Resist racism every day.” “Racism is a pandemic too.” “Transform Wilmot. End white supremacy.”

“Let’s work together on antiracism.”

Waterloo Regional Police and bylaw officers were at the event. Police said members of its COVID Integrated Response Team would be in attendance to monitor the event “to ensure public safety.”

Police said they were working with bylaw to ensure compliance under the Reopening Ontario Act.

After the rally, when asked if there were any charges, police said.

“We will work with bylaw on evidence collected for the potential of laying charges.”