Black Lives Matter is a diffuse movement that started in the U.S. with a hashtag on social media some three years ago. It is a loosely organized protest group that is also spreading across Canada, with protesters from Vancouver to Halifax chanting their slogans. The group recently protested at the Toronto Pride parade against the inclusion of police floats in the parade. They believe that police participation represents the institution of policing, which in turn is seen to have practiced racist activities such as the carding of black Canadians and other minority groups. The movement also believes that the media has been anti-black and pro-police in its practice and unfairly criticizes its activities.
Spokespersons for Black Lives Matter recognize that there are police who are individuals, and the majority are not the problem. They see the problems residing in the institution that houses them. The Canadian movement is perceived as being different from the American movement, but with many of the same goals, highlighting specific types of racism that exist in Canada.
However, along came the tragic shooting of several Dallas police officers by 25-year-old gunman Micah Johnson. Rightly or wrongly, various critics accuse the rhetoric of Black Lives Matters for having encouraged the sniper’s actions. The Dallas shootings have now overshadowed the recent police shootings of African Americans in Minnesota and Louisiana. Despite speeches by spokespersons for Black Lives Matters in Dallas and elsewhere denying any responsibility, there is little doubt that Americans at large will perceive some form of connection between the organization’s anti-police slogans and targetted police shootings.
For this reason, Black Lives Matters needs to take a step back and rethink its tactics. The issues facing black Canadians are equally numerous and complex. Yes, as a society we need to address the fact that there are a disproportionate number of blacks in our prisons compared to their share of the population. Yes, there is a disproportionate number of black children in the foster care system and there is a high dropout rate amongst black youth. Canada needs to address these and other critical issues which marginalize individuals. However, in light of the Dallas and other targetted shootings of police, there may be a need to find ways in which to work more with the police, other authorities and communities to tackle racism. At this time, the simple blame-game by any group could very well backfire among the general public.
FROLITICKS 
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