‘Extraordinary pride’: Mayor Nenshi supportive of mass demonstrations in Calgary

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — After peaceful demonstrations in solidarity with social justice movements around the world brought out thousands of Calgarians this week, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he is very happy with what he has seen.

“A feeling of extraordinary pride,” he said Thursday. “I’m proud of Calgarians for coming together. For doing so peacefully. For not throwing a single rock or breaking a single pane of glass. For opening their hearts and their minds and their ears to the conversations of other people.”

This is a historical moment for the city. #yyc #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/ZYLVTZHg7F

— Tom Ross (@Tommy_Slick) June 3, 2020

Nenshi said that, even amid a global pandemic, it is always commendable to march in the name of human rights, and it is time for people to come together and confront systemic problems in our society.

“The first step in change is acknowledging the problem. And we have got to acknowledge it,” he said.

The mayor added that it is unfortunate he hasn’t been able to march with the people as well, but as he holds a position of privilege, he feels it is time for him to listen.

“Part of who I am and where I am blessed to be in my life right now means I also get to stop and listen. I also get to listen to people’s voices and understand what they are saying and what they are doing and why it is important to have these conversations.”

Nenshi detailed a couple of local incidents as well, including a controversial comment made by Councillor Jeff Davison during Green Line meetings, which he has since apologized for, and a comment on Twitter from local businessman W. Brett Wilson that suggested Nenshi only won his election by playing the “race card.”

1/ Looking back at what I said last night, it was a mistake to conflate the important discussion we are having as a community about human rights with the cheap shots that have been taken by some Councillors and their staff at members of our community. #yyccc

— Jeff Davison (@JeffDavisonYYC) June 2, 2020

I generally ignore hateful people but wasn’t I just saying yesterday about how the cheapest insult is “playing the race card”? (I also won 12 of 14 wards and biggest margin was in Mr. Wilson’s neighbourhood if memory serves) xx https://t.co/5OaKRiOtep

— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) June 3, 2020

He said these situations expose the fact that a lot of work has to be done and even in the case of someone who is typically an ally, they can continue to listen and learn more about the situation.

On that point, Nenshi commended the police in Calgary for acknowledging they also have work to do and praised officers for stepping back, or in some cases kneeling with demonstrators, during the protests and not enforcing physical distancing measures.

“Fighting for fundamental human rights in a protest is not the same as going out for beers with your softball team,” he said. “Let’s say that there’s a march of 2,500 people. At what point do you say, you 50 get to stay and you 2,450 have to go now. And what would happen if you were to do that in a peaceful protest? We have got to be realistic here.”

Nenshi added that “overzealous enforcement” in other jurisdictions has led to negative consequences, and it is much better that it has not happened here.

He also cautioned people that this does not give everyone else carte blanche to go out and hold large gatherings with friends, as tickets will be handed out in those situations.

The demonstrations may also result in a rise in COVID-19 cases, Nenshi admitted, but he is grateful that most people were wearing masks and hand sanitizer was made available.

That said, he does advise anyone who attended the protests to monitor for symptoms and consider getting a COVID-19 test in the coming days and to, of course, stay home if you do start to feel sick.