Another beautiful by-product of @JFAAP amazing event was that I got to meet D!ONNE/@OnElectionDay in person. Let me tell y'all I've been a BIG fan. How big? I saw a video recap of a Mayoral debate in Jane and Finch in 2014, where no Black candidates were invited to speak. #topoli
Well let me tell y'all, D!ONNE/@OnElectionDay wasn't having any of it. She was a Black Mayoral candidate, and the debate was in a Black and racialized community, she said, NAH. D!ONNE/@OnElectionDay crashed and interrupted that debate. I watched that video, over and over. #topoli
What made the non-invite worse was there were 4 chairs set up for the debate and the 4th candidate did not show up (Doug Ford), so D!ONNE/@OnElectionDay took that seat to be hers. I transcribed that video + put it in a paper, as a generative Rude Act (h/t @blacklikewho) #topoli
She was asked to leave, to calm down, then ultimately the authorities, + yes 31 Division was eventually called on to remove her from the stage. D!ONNE/@OnElectionDay rightly shamed organizers for Black people calling the police on Black people. She is a force, a gift to our city.
The silence of the other Mayoral candidates, Chow, Tory + Goldkind spoke depths of volumes. Rather have an empty chair than a Black woman Mayoral candidate included in the debate? Watch one of our sheroes take on the world w/ grace under fire here: #topoli
Eventually D!ONNE/@OnElectionDay won over those assembled as chants of "Let her speak" began to fill Yorkwoods Library Theatre. This is an important moment in our municipal history. The spinelessness, lack of ethics and leadership of our Mayor @JohnTory on full display #topoli
