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Family of the late Africville activist Eddie Carvery are vowing to continue his protest on the grounds of the former historic Black community in north-end Halifax.
The 79-year-old, who was born in Africville and first set up a camp there in 1970, died on Feb. 14.
His grandson said the fight he started decades ago is not over.
“He wanted this fight to continue on as long as it had to until the people of Africville really, truly got what they deserved,” said Eddy Carvery III.
About 400 people from 80 families lived in Africville before the community was demolished by the city of Halifax in the 1960s to make way for development including the MacKay Bridge.
Carvery III said it lifted his grandfather’s spirits to see he wanted to continue his crusade.
“What he wanted most before anything else was a public inquiry,” he said. “If the outside public only understood half of what the people of Africville had to endure then there would be no pushback when we throw around the other words like compensation.”
The 2010 apology from Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly, followed by the construction of the replica church that is now the Africville Museum, did not bring the kind of reparations Carvery hoped for.
Carvery III said family members think a presence at the site is important and they have received support from others.
Matthew Byard, the creator of the website BlackNovaScotia.ca, said the protest and presence of the trailer is an important reminder of an injustice.
“It tells the story of what happened here,” said Byard.
Basic services that were provided to other people in the city at the time were not available in Africville, such as access to clean water.
“They were faced with harsh conditions because they were Black,” said Byard. “And so the trailer here, the physical presence here just makes that apparent and impossible to forget or ignore.”
In a statement, the Halifax Regional Municipality said it is not “currently involved in any steps to remove this trailer from private property, owned by the Africville Heritage Trust.”
The Africville Museum, which is operated by the trust, said the trailer is deteriorating, presents safety concerns and cannot remain on the land.
However, the museum said it worked directly with Eddie Carvery on a tribute it began several years ago.
Monument to be unveiled
“We agree Mr. Carvery’s protest is a part of the Africville story,” said Juanita Peters, the museum’s executive director. “Together, we actually wrote a piece that will be on a monument that we will be dedicating to Mr. Carvery.”
The memorial, she said, displays his image and shows the gratitude he had for his mother, whom he described as his inspiration.
“I think that particular monument is something that will hold his legacy forever and will be there forever,” said Peters.
When the monument will be unveiled is to be determined.
Carvery III said his grandfather’s funeral service is being arranged for March 13 at the New Horizons Baptist Church in Halifax. A visitation will take place the day before.
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