A Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest has been taking place daily outside the Calgary courthouse in an attempt to raise awareness and demand the firing of police Const. Alex Dunn..In December 2017, Dunn threw a woman — Dalia Kafi — to the ground face first in the Arrest Processing Unit, resulting in serious injuries requiring surgery. Dunn was arresting Kafi for breaching her court-imposed curfew..Kafi has since died of an overdose in Red Deer..Inclusive Canada said beginning July 26 they, along with Black Lives Matter YYC and Black People United, “will begin a prolonged direct action to put pressure on government officials to take action against Alex Dunn.”.The protest is scheduled to occur every weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..Dunn was convicted of assault causing bodily harm after the incident and handed a one-month sentence which he was able to serve under house arrest and by abiding by a curfew..According to the Inclusive Canada statement, Dunn is also “under an internal investigation by the Calgary Police Service after CBC News received a photo of him in blackface at a 2012 Halloween party.”.Provincial court Judge Michelle Christopher said during Dunn’s sentencing “I do not find it necessary to separate the offender from society.” She went on to say “his actions, while harmful, were not premeditated.”.With the criminal court process now completed, it is up to CPS to decide whether or not to take further action, such as removing Dunn from the force. There’s still a possibility Dunn could be convicted of Police Act offences, which could result in Dunn facing consequences ranging from reprimand to dismissal..Prior to his conviction, Dunn was performing administrative duties, but is currently suspended without pay..CPS has expressed difficulty behind firing Dunn completely because an officer can only be terminated under “exceptional circumstances.” CPS went on to say: “But the law does not define what counts as an ‘exceptional circumstance.’”.Protest leader Taylor McNallie, the co-founder and director of Inclusive Canada, tweeted August 4 about how “an off-duty officer told me to ‘lay off the cheesburgers’.” McNallie admitted in the same tweet that she seemingly instigated the interaction by telling him “to stop skipping leg day.”.McNallie has taken to her public Twitter account as one way to get her message out, and has garnered significant support as a result. Kind-hearted civilians have been donating everything from pizza to water and a small assortment of other items to help support those on the front lines of the protest.. Screen-Shot-2021-08-06-at-9.01.04-AM .McNallie and those at the protest refused to speak with or answer any questions from anyone representing Western Standard..She is part of daily duelling protests downtown, with Calgary doctor Joseph Vipond leading one nearby against the government’s removal of COVID-19 restrictions..Jackie Conroy is a reporter for the Western Standard.jconroy@westernstandardonline.com
