“The date is May 2020, Glen Traask, the police officer hears loud voices and, with caution,
approaches a scuffle between two men. Traask demands identifying information (also called
random street checks and carding). One man takes off running, and Traask pursues, tackles, and
incapacitates the suspect. As a result, Albert Sargent suffered serious injuries.”
INT. COURTROOMS (YouTube Live Broadcast) – DAY
Officer Glen Traask is convicted of assault but acquitted of aggravated assault and exonerate of
obstruction of justice.
(Present Day)- On phone with Dad
Dad
Hello, Hellooo… Son, your protest sign reads “Black Lives Matter” or “Defund the Police”. Just
wanted to let you know that we’ll join you in protest against Traask decisions which are systemic
racism and police brutality. Your family and the local community are behind you but I would
request you to change the protest sign to read “All Lives Matter”
Kenshi Smith (Me)
Thanks, dad, for the support. We must protest against any racial and police brutality happenings
since the incidence triggers past traumatic memories. But since I am not experienced and
knowledgeable enough, I will listen and learn from others.
Dad
Sure, you are still young son and unexperienced son. You may have little knowledge of what is
happening in the society about police brutality and racism. But let me share with you something
little about “All Lives Matter” as it appears in the article written by Achel Elizabeth Cargle.
There has been a lengthy debate on the phrases “Black Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter”.
Today, many people feel that its not the lives of the Black people that matter alone but the lives
of all people (Cargle and Elizabeth, 2019). For instance, white people have a knee jerk reaction
whenever they see something addressing needs of the minority group only. Therefore, since the
white people want focus to be on all people even those experiencing majority representation, you
should change your protest sign into “All Lives Matter”.
EXT. UNIVERSITY CENTER – MORNING
(Roommates preparing to attend protestor gathering)
Pat Cossin, friend
The protest gathering is unauthorized Smith, I don’t feel like joining them.
Kenshi Smith (Me)
That true Pat, we should not involve ourselves in unsanctioned protest gathering. Let continue
with our plan of creating an online game that promotes health information. I am thinking on what
we should discuss during our next advanced media class.
Pat Cossin, friend
(Interrupts)
Smith, I have an idea. What about having an anti-mask demonstration agnist the protesting
crowd.
Kenshi Smith (Me)
(Receives a phone notification)
Look Pat, I have received a notification on the increased rate of infection among the racialized
communities disproportionally. The death toll in the long-term care facilities is also escalating.
Medical shortages, hospital resources are beyond their capacity, there must be another lock down
Pat. Let wait for the coming government conference.
But why? Why are radicalized communities reporting high number of infections. For many
years, minority groups such as the Black communities have been placed in the exterior side of
policing. It is this policing of the public health facilities which has seen increase in deaths and
arrest of minority groups in the name of public health protection (Guariglia and Matthew, 2020).
Today, data from developed countries such as United States and United Kingdom shows that
black people are the one contracting Covid-19 virus and dying at high rates as compared to the
white people.
Pat Cossin, friend
Relax Smith, I understand your concerns. The already received notifications raises a number of
questions on why Covid-19 pandemic discriminate. As you are aware of, the head of British
Medical Association, Dr Chaand Nagpaul has called on for investigations on the reasons why
minority ethnic groups such as the Black and Asians are more vulnerable to the pandemic. I feel
that the government is going to introduce contact tracing.
Kenshi Smith (Me)
What? Don’t even think about it. Contact tracing embeds surveillance in public health facilities
and proposes data when making decisions. Also, you know that contact tracing data are linked to
demographics of database such as disaggregated race-based data.
INT. CONFERENCE HALL – NIGHT
Kenshi Smith (Me)
(Receives a message on twitter from Erika Rhuma, Local Journalist)
(Reading the message silently)
Good morning, Smith, am Erika Rhuma, a local journalist. From your twitter profile, I have
learnt about your health promotion game. Would you like sharing more about the game?
(Interrupted by another message from John Makes, University VP, External Communications)
(Reading the message silently)
“John Makes, the Vice President, learned from Erika Rhuma's editor that she is on campus to
interview you. You are asked to meet Mr. Makes in his office immediately—"for interview
preparations." The message continues, "Mr. Makes and his team will ensure you share the “right”
message."
(To Pat)
I feel conflicted Pat, why would Erika want to interview me? Why would the vice president want
to meet me before the interview. Even though I understand the importance of media messages, I
would like to remain true to myself. What are the consequences if I fail to see the vice president?
Do you think I will be suspended from school? Which is the right message for me Pat? What
your advice Pat?
Pat Cossin, friend
You must be confused Smith, but I promise to stand with you in whatever decision you make.
But my concerns are about the cruelty of Twitter trolls. They tend to cancel anyone with
opposing opinions.
(Government news starts)
The Honorable Jean Dodge, Ontario Provincial Premier
To prevent the occurrence of another Covid-19 pandemic outbreak wave resulting to public
health conflict, we are going to have another lockdown aimed at enhancing support for
regulation 58/16. Police are therefore encouraged to stop people from gathering in streets. This
gives police more power to disrupt any gathering without questioning.
Kenshi Smith (Me)
(Receives an email from Mr. Makes followed by Erika email)
"What position should Public Health take to protect essential care workers? What will help
people understand the complexity of today's situation? How to stay safe? Can you offer any
words of hope?" These are planned questions for the interview.
(Interview starts the following day)
Erika Rhuma: Welcome to our interview Mr. Smith. Our first question is what position should
public health take to protect essential care workers?
Mr. Kenshi Smith (Me): Since essential care workers are at high risk of getting infected and
infecting their families, it is the responsibility of the public health to ensure that all essential care
workers are protected. This can be achieved by providing PPEs and insuring all health workers
and close family members in the new Medicare-Covid program (Tomer and Kane, March 31,
2020)
Erika Rhuma: How can people understand the current complexity?
Mr. Kenshi Smith (Me): People can understand today’s complexity only if the people accept to
end racial discrimination on the matters concerning health. The current claim that Covid-19
pandemic and other social responses doesn’t discriminate contradicts what we are experiencing
in the health sector today (Bain et al, 2020).
Erika Rhuma: How to stay safe? Can you offer any words of hope?
Mr. Kenshi Smith (Me): To stay safe, health and policing factors should be considered. Health
policing should be implemented without discrimination. A word of hope I have is focused on the
minority group and other racialized individuals. I would like to tell these people that a time for
liberation is coming when we will not have health discrimination.
(End of interview)
Significant conflict
Existing health conflict in the country is a significant conflict since it has helped many people
understand the current complexity in the health sector. For instance, many people think that
Covid-19 and other health issues associated with social responses do not discriminate among the
minority group, it is evident that there is discrimination in the health sector and action need to be
taken.
Future actions/next steps
In future, health sector should focus on ending health discrimination by working towards
promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity. Through this, all people will receive health care
services regardless of their race, sex or ethnic group.
References
Adie Tomer and Joseph W. Kane. How to protect essential workers during COVID-19,
(Tuesday, March 31, 2020) [Link]
essential-workers-during-covid-19/
Bain, Beverly, Dryden, OmiSoorie, Walcott, Rinaldo. Coronavirus discriminates against Black
lives through surveillance, policing and the absence of health data. The Conversation
(2020).
Cargle, Rachel Elizabeth. How to talk to your family about racism. Harpers (2019).
Guariglia, [Link] to Identify Visible (and Invisible) Surveillance at Protests. Electronic
Frontier Foundation (2020).