The Waterloo Regional Police Service has suspended its plans for so-called diversity cruisers after a community backlash, including a petition that garnered thousands of signatures. The program, launched on March 29, was quickly criticized by people in the Waterloo region, including from the Black and Indigenous communities. The artwork includes a woman wearing a traditional Nigerian head wrap, a Sikh man, and a Muslim man and woman. (Mark Araujo / Waterloo Regional Police) The police service said while the project had "many" supporters, "others expressed concerns about its concept and were offended by the visual design elements on the cruisers." For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.

Source: CBC News April 09, 2021 20:46 UTC