12/13 Sign Wave for KP
Since Kevin Peterson was murdered by detectives Jeremy Brown and Robert Anderson and deputy Jon Feller there has been an upwelling of anger at yet another Black person killed by police. Streets in Vancouver have been packed to the gills, full of people demanding justice. Nights are punctuated by candlelight at the site of the murder, illuminating the signs and flowers hung up on the fence next to where Kevin’s body lay for hours. One of the most consistent upswells has been in front of the Safeway in Camas, where a small but unyielding group of activists hold weekly sign waves, making sure that Kevin’s murder doesn’t recede from the public mind.
The sky was draped in its usual grey veil, threatening us with rain. On the sidewalk was a small contingent of people holding signs, as they have been every week since October 29th.
In the beginning, the group was mostly left alone in regards to people who feel threatened by the concept of Black lives mattering. A kid ran by, yelling “Trump 2020” as he charged at the automatic doors of the Safeway. A few passersby echoed similar sentiments as they drove by. For the most part, people were honking and waving in support. Obvious undercover and clearly marked police vehicles were trying to circle us in what they clearly believed to be sneaky ways. A person who had been out there since October 29th told me about how the police used to wave, but had quit after seeing how long the group had persisted.
About halfway through the event, one of the sign wavers casually remarked they had noticed a woman in an SUV pull out a handgun while staring daggers at us. Everyone was completely nonplussed, one person even shrugging their shoulders.
Around 2 PM a man and his child approached us, yelling about all lives mattering. One of the sign wavers turned their heel and marched directly at him, a few liberatory pamphlets in her hand, and challenged him. For about 20 minutes, the two went back and forth. The man recited the same talking points lifted from right-wing media that have been heard thousands of times, and the activist methodically picked out the inconsistencies and fallacies. The man’s voice shifted from boisterous bravado to a quivering near-whisper, in which he eeked out a small “well I guess we aren’t so different after all” before leaving with a handful of pamphlets.
In the final hour of the event, a group of carolers began setting up nearby. As they unpacked their microphones and guitar, they began trying to verbally harass the sign wavers. Still unbothered, the sign wavers actually joined in the singing of a few Christmas carols.
The event drew to a close, and in a very snappy fashion people vacated. Leaving no stragglers behind.
Overall, it was impressive. Even more so for a group of such a relatively small size so deep in what is considered to be chud-ville. Despite the people who had for some reason tried to protest a vigil for a Black man, people stayed calm and relaxed, yet alert. You could tell they’ve been doing this for a while, and wouldn’t be phased by a chud getting triggered.
Hopefully, we don’t have to demand justice much longer.
Rest in Power Kevin Peterson Jr.
