Black Lives Matter protester expected 'white power controversy' in Christchurch

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Tasha Chisaka was once called a n….. at work, and her wounded brother was almost arrested after being assaulted on a Christchurch street.

So when the 20-year-old trainee teacher decided to speak out at the Black Lives Matter march in Christchurch on Monday, she expected ''some sort of white power controversy'' to taint the event.

She was pleasantly surprised to experience only support on the day.

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**

Racism was not just America's problem, and it was time to keep the same energy focused on change even after the protests stopped, she said.

''A lot of people don't believe that it's a problem here in New Zealand.

''I feel like if you're telling people of colour that it's not a New Zealand problem, you should really get a reality check.''

She also wanted to speak out for Māori and Pacifika who ''the system is trying to bring down''.

Chisaka – born in Zimbabwe – was outspoken about racial inequality while growing up and going to school in Christchurch. But she described herself as shy, and not a natural public speaker.

A school speech about cultural appropriation was once met with cattiness from white classmates unhappy with being told how they should act.

Working in a restaurant kitchen last year, Chisaka told a workmate it made her uncomfortable having him sing ''n……'' in a rap song. He then said, ''Why, is it because you're a n……?''

When she told her manager, ''she literally laughed in my face and said, 'You want me to slap him on the hand?'''

Chisaka quit two weeks later because she did not feel heard.

Two years ago, Chisaka's brother was waiting for an Uber with his girlfriend after a night out when a man assaulted him and stole his jacket and phone.

Despite her brother explaining what happened to a nearby police officer, he automatically saw him as the threat when he saw his bleeding face, and his distressed, white girlfriend nearby.

''They were ready to put him in cuffs,' Chisaka said.

It took his white girlfriend telling the policeman the same story for him to back down.

''It was disgusting really.''

Chisaka hoped to convince her brother to report his experience to police, because now maybe people might listen, she said.

She spoke at the Christchurch event, which was one of several marches held around the country in solidarity with protesters in the United States after the police killing of George Floyd.

Organiser Will Hunter said he only stepped up to create the Black Lives Matter event – attended by hundreds – because of the short time frame. In future, he hoped to be a pākehā ally and support others to take the lead.

He was in talks with organisations he could help for any future marches, once Coronavirus restrictions had ended, he said.