An all-day forum hosted by Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) and the Richmond RCMP marked the U.N. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination last week, with more than 100 people in attendance.
“We are doing this because the work is not done,” said Richmond’s Insp. Baltej Dhillon, MC of the forum, who is known as the first RCMP officer to wear a turban after fighting for his religious rights.
“There still remains elements within our community and our country that propagate hate and extend violence through words.”
The forum featured two world-renowned speakers, Omar Rachid and Dr. Gary Branfman, who shared their experiences about a hate-filled attack in Texas, U.S., where a mosque was burned to the ground, causing the community to come together in solidarity.
Noor Fadel, the Muslim woman assaulted by a man on the Canada Line skytrain in Richmond last December, also spoke at the event.
“When the mosque was burnt, the entire community came together as one community. Muslim, Jewish, Christians, white and blacks, Asians... everybody got together to support each other,” said Branfman.
“Neighbourly love transpired and overwhelmed the entire world. But this is how people are supposed to be. The only way to combat racism is by these acts of overwhelming human kindness.”
Branfman said no one is born racist; some were taught to be racist, and they need to be “untaught” through education.
“I think there is a window of opportunity if someone is raised in a racist household, and is misguided with false information, it’s not out of the question for these people to be re-educated,” he said.
It's important to stand up to the bullies and not let them get away from it, according to Rachid.
“Don’t laugh if someone makes a joke about a certain group of people because the next one is gonna be about you. You need to call it out and say this is wrong,” he said.
Insp. Dhillon agreed and shared his experience when a taxi driver in Richmond commented that “all Chinese drivers are bad.”
“I spoke out immediately. I said, ‘that is wrong, and you are wrong. That is really unfortunate that you have that kind of thinking, because it takes me the rest of this drive to explain to you how this is wrong,” he recalled.
Rachid pointed out that, racism does not only exist among members of a dominant or majority group, to those of a historically disadvantaged group – there is also "reverse racism," and "no one should fight racism with racism."
He believes communication is key, helping eliminate fear, which, in many cases, racism is based on.
"I have invited many people who have concerns about Muslims to have coffee or lunch together. I think once you do that, they learn about the person they may be fearful of and the character of that person, and then that fear is dissipated and gone," said Rachid.
Dhillon said the Richmond RCMP would continue to make it "not safe” for people with racism to have a voice.
“We will try to change their mind through compassion and kindness, to bring awareness and understanding,” said Dhillon.
“If we can’t change their mind, the second part is to interfere, to interrupt their agender of hate.”
KPU students Maria Guiang called it an eye-opening event, hoping that this can be a mandatory course for everyone.
“Racism is still happening today, although it's not a common thing in Canada. This forum provided a safe environment for everyone to talk about their prejudices and biases. We should be educating and empowering people about them," said Guiang.
