Last week in Charleston, South Carolina, Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Clementa Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson all lost their lives in a racially motivated massacre. As hundreds of thousands mourn the victims and call for justice, some reactions are telling of the colonial and racist thinking that still exists today. Gary Shaul reflects on “how conservatives frame the issues of race, gender, and terror.“
The Black Lives Matter movement ignited in 2012 after the murder of 17-year old, Travyon Martin. The movement, organized to dismantle systematic anti-black racism and to seek justice for the black lives lost, remains strong today. David Martinez says technological and industrial features of U.S. society have played a part in the success of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Rachel Dolezal resigned as the NAACP president of the Spokane, Washington chapter after it was revealed Dolezal has been living as a white woman passing as black. Dolezal claims to be a transracial civil rights activist. John Baglow, however, says Dolezal exemplifies “how not to be an ally.“
June marks Indigenous History Month and Krystalline Kraus has the details on Indigenous community events here. Kraus also discusses the selection of the Black Hills National Forest as this year’s Rainbow Gathering despite strong opposition from Indigenous groups.
When the topic of residential schools and colonialism in Canada arises, the term, “cultural genocide” or “language genocide” is often used. But using these terms derails from what really happened. Pamela Palmater explains, “What happened in residential schools was genocide.“
Indigenous ultra-marathoner Caribou Legs is running from Vancouver to Ottawa to bring attention to the B.C. coal industry’s devastation of our lakes and rivers. This Tuesday, Caribou Legs arrived in Salmon Arm where local waterways are threatened by the proposed Ruddock Creek mine. Emma Lui reveals the facts on B.C. coal industry’s air pollution and water contamination, and explains how you can support Caribou Legs’ run here.
Also this week on rabble.ca blogs, Tyson Kelsall examines the school-to-pipeline pipeline, alternative education, elitism in university, healing in university, and strengthening education. Kesall says, “public education in British Columbia is struggling against a neoliberal framework.“
Funding for postsecondary education and research in Alberta faced a cut of $147 million. Carolyn Sale says that despite the devastating blow to funding, Alberta can recover with the help of Rachel Notley. Sale says, “Alberta’s new premier is committed to postsecondary education.“
Lenée Son is a freelance multimedia journalist living in Metro Vancouver and the rabble.ca Blogs intern.
Image: Flickr/The All-Nite Images
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