Last evening, Chéticamp residents gathered along Cabot Trail to peacefully protest anti-Black racism and police brutality. They joined hundreds of thousands of people rallying across North America following the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, who died while in police custody in Minneapolis. The incident, caught on camera, exposed yet another example of systemic and violent racism against Black people and other people of colour. It drove protesters to the streets, including here, in the small community in rural Nova Scotia.

Observing social distancing measures, a line of over 60 protesters took a knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to honour George Floyd. Young Logan MacMichael, who was at the protest with his family, gave a short speech. “Since COVID-19, people have been dying," he said. "We don’t kill each other. Stop hurting each other. P.S. it doesn’t matter your skin colour. XOXO, George Floyd.” Floyd died on May 25, 2020 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for exactly 8 minutes and 46 seconds, while Floyd repeatedly said he couldn’t breath.

Rally organizer Andrea Timmons said she wanted to share a message of solidarity for Black people everywhere, especially in her own Chéticamp community. “We must show the whole world that we are united, even as a small community where most white people live,” she said. “It doesn’t matter. We love you. We care for you. We want you to know that we are here for you and we do not agree with what’s happened. And you’re safe with us. You should be safe in the world.”

Protesters said it’s particularly important to call attention to racial discrimination in a predominantly white community. About 0.4% of the population identifies as a visible minority in the area, according to the latest census. “It just makes it a lot harder for Black people and other people of colour, minorities, to come here,” protester Kendra Roach said. “People might be indirectly racist without even realizing it. So, protesting and understanding what racism is, is very important so we can be proactive in being anti-racist, avoiding racism for people who live here, [for] people who come here. We get so many tourists from so many places. They deserve to all feel welcome.”

There have been other anti-racism demonstrations in Cape Breton over the last few days. Protesters gathered in Sydney on Wednesday evening.