Is Saskatchewan racist? Online comments spark conversation

The reaction to a deadly shooting in a farmyard outside Biggar is bringing a conversation about racism to the forefront in Saskatchewan.

Comments bordering on hate speech have surfaced on social media after 22-year-old Colton Boushie from the Red Pheasant First Nation was shot and killed. Gerald Stanley, 54, is charged with second degree murder in the shooting.

The RCMP is warning the public some comments could be criminal. Over the weekend Premier Brad Wall also weighed in on the conversation, saying that racist and hate-filled comments must stop. 

News Talk Radio asked several people on the street what they think of racist comments being shared on social media.

“In comparison to America I don’t think that we’re all that much better. I think that we just say it nicer. I think that we use euphemisms a lot.”

“You can peel back the layers when things like this happen. People start coming out of the woodwork and it’s ugly.”

“Unfortunately social media shoots from the lip and doesn’t wait for facts, doesn’t wait for background, doesn’t wait for reality. I have a very low opinion of social media so I would (say) it’s a sounding board for mostly morons.”  

“It doesn’t matter how mean you are, how stupid you are, how dumb these idiots are, as long as you got people yelling at them back on social media they’re pretty much considering that a win.”

People say even though the inappropriate comments are becoming part of the story, they don’t feel those attitudes are representative of a broader issue in Saskatchewan.

“I really don’t think that that’s indicative of everybody.”

“I hope it’s a small minority. I don’t see that in people in my life.”

“I don’t think it does speak for most people in Saskatchewan.”