Eight cities around the province raised the Pan-African flag to mark the beginning of Black History Month on Monday.
The flag represents all members of the African diaspora, and symbolizes Black freedom.
Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John are among the municipalities that participated in the ceremony.
Saint John’s Mayor Don Darling raised the flag outside City Hall on Monday afternoon.
“When we come together on this plaza and we raise flags, whether it be the Greek flag, or many other groups, it’s a sign of the deepest respect that we have, to raise a flag at city hall,” the mayor said.
Darling says raising the flag is a good first step, but it’s important that New Brunswickers remain committed to combatting racism.
“Raising a flag is to pay respect, to raise awareness, to educate about how this flag came about,” he said. “But it’s also about the actions between raising a flag once a year.”
Black Lives Matter New Brunswick Founder Matthew Martin also spoke at Monday’s flag raising ceremony.
Martin says he hopes the Pan-African can be a symbol of the end of racism in New Brunswick.
“This is a sign to show that everyone of these cities are supportive of everything that Black Lives Matter and our Black communities are pursuing,” Martin said. “This is more than just a flag, this is really a sign of the beginning of hopefully the end of racism.”
