Anti-Black Racism – Now is the Time to Act

The Toronto NAJC supports this statement by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (“Foundation”) was created by the Government of Canada (“Government”) as a Crown Corporation in 1996, as part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement, to reaffirm the principles of justice and equality for all in Canada.

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation condemns racially motivated actions against all people. We acknowledge the many Canadian protests and voices in support of US anti-Black racism demonstrations against police brutality in the George Floyd case. Canada’s peaceful demonstrations raise the importance for Canadians to address systemic inequalities inundating our Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities. The COVID-19 environment had already begun to reveal similar risks and fault lines.

Racism is also a reality in Canada. Systemic and structural racism faced by the Black and Indigenous communities is well-documented. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the protest marches taking place across Canada and acknowledged and promised that his government will do more to address the situation. We welcome these messages and look forward to the changes soon. We echo the poignant points expressed by The Canadian Human Rights Commission’s statement “”Anti-Black Racism in Canada: Time to Face the Truth” that anti-black racism is pervasive in Canada and we must work together to eradicate racism.

“’I can’t breathe’ is what Black people have been crying out since the days of slavery in US history. Story after story has brought us to this point of ‘I can’t breathe’ and enough is enough. Let us be reminded of US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s words: People are people…strike them they will cry, cut them they will bleed, starve them they will wither away and die. But treat them with respect and decency, give them access to the levers of power, attend to their aspirations and  grievances, they will flourish and grow . . . and  form a more perfect Union” says Raymond Tynes, Board member of CRRF and Commissioner with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

“It has never been more urgent for Canadians to act now, to stand together, to speak up and work in support of anti-racism. It is up to all of us, regardless of our background, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting racism out. We need to self-reflect and listen to our peers who experience life differently because of the colour of their skin” says Teresa Woo-Paw, Chair of CRRF.