Tackling Racism


Social Media is pulling the plug on organizations that are racist. The government is labeling one of these organizations as terrorists. An MP is getting booted from caucus for taking donations from a white nationalist. It sounds like something is finally happening to thwart the threat of hate in Canada. But the problem goes back much further and is buried much deeper. Can a few noisome political gestures make a difference?


In 1952 my immigrant parents were openly called DPs (derogatory for Displaced Person) and told they were “taking jobs away from Canadians.” In 2016 the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent expressed serious concerns about systemic anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system in Canada. When residential schools were ordered closed in Manitoba the native students were integrated into regular schools where they had to stand, not sit, stand at the back of the classroom – all day – all year!


Racism is a deep rooted problem in the world today. 4 years ago a gunman killed 6 and injured 19 just because they were Muslim. The NDP is working on legislation that goes beyond “labeling” and gives the government more tools to dismantle white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups. Check out the NDP's Commitments where confronting racism is an important part of who we are and not just an afterthought in a stump speech.

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