In response to recent racist incidents that have taken place across Metro Vancouver, Richmond City Councillor Chak Au and advocates from various cultural backgrounds launched the Stop Racism Alliance this week.
The group signed a joint declaration on Thursday, calling for more action to combat racism and hate crimes.
A video went viral in August showing a woman yelling racial slurs at another woman in a parking lot in Richmond. Earlier this week, another video surfaced of a disturbing encounter between a woman and staff at a Shoppers Drug Mart located in Burnaby. In the video, the woman demands that the staff speak English to her.
Au said a lot of people are alarmed by the rise in racist incidents and hate crimes in B.C. Also, there is a strong desire to raise awareness about racist behaviour that can remain invisible to the public.
“There are only a few incidents that have been caught on camera so far; hate crimes can be more common and serious than the ones that get captured on camera. (Because) we haven’t seen it doesn’t mean the racism doesn’t exist,” said Au.
When he first brought the idea of tackling racism together to other ethnic groups, they endorsed the plan immediately, Au added.
“Indo-Canadians, African-Canadians and other community members have shared their own experiences with racism to me, they were telling the stories we were unaware of before,” said Au. “So forming the coalition can help facilitate understanding between each other.”
The Stop Racism Alliance also put forward a “community protocol” idea, which will provide support to victims of racial discrimination.
“Nowadays, some people don’t know where they can ask for help after going through hate-motivated incidents. But with the support group, they will feel less nervous and helpless,” said Au.
Other members joining the alliance were Balwant Sanghera, chairman of the Richmond Highway to Heaven Association, Rabbi Adam Rubin of Beth Tikvah Congregation in Richmond and Wayne Lo, a Richmond pastor.
The declaration is intended to be a living document that is open to other groups and individuals who want to join the alliance and support its initiatives.
