Black advocacy group calls for name change to Jets 'Whiteout' parties

A group advocating for Winnipeg’s black community is calling for a name change to the infamous “Whiteout” street parties.

Held outside Bell MTS Place before every playoff game, thousands of fans flood the streets in the city’s downtown core dressed from head-to-toe in all white clothing — an image that can be seen as threatening to some, according to Alexa Potashnik, the founder of Black Space Winnipeg.

The non-profit organization that lobbies for the city’s black community is suggesting the name of the parties be changed to better reflect Winnipeg’s diversity.

BSW posted the following message to its Facebook page prior to the Jets’ series opener against the Blues:

If you’re not aware today the Winnipeg Jets kicks off its downtown street party series—making downtown ‘white again’ we had to share this. For people who come downtown to take part in the Jets festivities, just remember a massive street party called a #whiteout does not make all #Winnipeggers feel safe.

Now, if you’re reading this and thinking “calm down, it’s harmless fun, it has nothing to do with race—it’s apart of the Jets culture. It’s a tradition. It’s how we show our team and city pride. Whiteout represents a blizzard and a play on our extreme Winnipeg weather, it’s for everyone.” Have a look at these photos from past Jets pandemonium / fan appreciation (the four men wearing all white Jets outfits with pointed hoodies....remind you of anything)

Not only is the province spending a significant amount of money for these street whiteout parties — this will be going on for the next few weeks. Mayhem ensues when these parties take place. It’s triggering to see a sea of white when you’re walking home from work or school — witnessing aggressive ‘Jets culture’ as Jets fans flood the streets yelling ‘True North’. We thought, if you can’t change the party, at least revise the name because a headline that reads: ‘Jets parties will turn downtown white again’ reminds us of a similar phrase started by a very problematic politician in the states....#justsaying.

Potashnik resides in the area and says she has been to the street parties, where she has had fun but also “heard racial slurs and racist humour while walking through the crowds,” she shared with the CBC.

"It's quite real.”

The “Whiteout” began in 1987 as Jets supporters responded to rival Calgary Flames fans and their “Sea of Red” during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL’s home colours back then were white, but the tradition has held even though clubs now traditionally wear their darks on home ice.

“I get the colour context 100 per cent, but it's the culture that we're talking about. It's the wording we're critiquing," Potashnik shared on CBC’s Up to Speed on Thursday.

"It's triggering for some people. For marginalized communities, whether that's black communities, Indigenous people of colour, folks with disabilities, queer communities, it impacts us all."

Potashnik added that Black Space Winnipeg is not advising anyone to boycott or protest the parties.

"We're just saying, how can we make these parties so that everyone feels safe? That's the biggest thing."

The Jets and Blues resume their first-round series on Friday, with St. Louis leading the best-of-seven 1-0.

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