The deadly attack on police officers in Dallas, along with the shootings of black men by police officers in Louisiana and Minnesota, are leaving members of Montreal's black community with mixed emotions.
A combination of sadness and and helplessness over events they have no control over.
Will Prosper is an activist and a former member of the RCMP.
"I wasn't surprised to tell you the truth. I was mostly surprised it did not happen before," said Prosper.
He said while Montreal has fewer firearms on the streets, racial profiling by police is an even bigger problem.
"As a black person in Montreal the chance that you will be racially profiled is superior than in the United States," said Prosper.
"We have the fastest-growing number of black people right now that are being incarcerated than the States, so we have problems in Montreal that we need to take a look at."
Prosper has been pushing for a commission on systemic racism at the provincial level
"In Quebec we don't even talk about that discussion and that's a topic we should be having, we should be fighting for equal justice," said Prosper.
Equal justice.. no matter the colour of your skin or anything else
That feeling echoed by hip-hop star Darryl McDaniels of the rap group RUN DMC.
In Montreal for a comic book and science fiction festival, he said people need to remember that all lives are precious.
"The first thing to do is put value on everybody's lives, you know what i'm saying. Black lives matter, white lives matter, Chinese, Japanese, Latino lives matter, all lives matter. But what really matters is what we're going to do to stop the blood splatter," said McDaniels.
"The politicians, the people, the pastors, the priests need to get in a room and say what can we do to stop this tomorrow."
Montreal musician Jonathan Emile has strong ties with the Desta black youth network.
He says part of the anger people are feeling is because the Black Lives Matter movement is supposed to be peaceful.
"I think everyone is a little incensed at this point and wants everything to de-escalate and use this as a moment of reflection and say something really has to change, something has to give," said Emile.
"We're looking for how to react, what is the next step we can do to move forward, which is very hard at this time."
Members of Montreal's black community are organizing an event Monday night outside of the Georges Vanier metro to grieve the lives lost to violence this week, and express sympathy to the survivors.
