CFLPA leader urges league to eradicate systemic racism
Elimimian says you don’t have to be black or American to stand up against injustice
Canadian Football League players have for years put their locally famous faces to the fights against drug use, domestic violence and bullying in their adopted communities.
Veteran linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who has proudly taken a role in that vital community outreach, is adamant the league and its players now join forces in a meaningful manner to take a stand against systemic racism.
“Let’s talk about it. Let’s see how we can provide an avenue where people can come together and effect change,” said Elimimian, who is in his first year as president of the CFL Players’ Association.
“We know it’s wrong. We all agree. We’re upset, we’re angry, but what are we going to do about it? We all have a responsibility, and I think quite frankly an obligation, to speak out against injustice.”
In a weekend message to CFLPA members, Elimimian addressed the killing, allegedly by a while police officer, of unarmed African-american George Floyd in Minnesota. He also addressed subsequent protests and riots in American cities.
In his message, Elimimian, an African-american, said he was forced to deal with racism so often while growing up in Los Angeles that it became normal. That disturbing realization, and the killing of Floyd and many others before him, prompted Elimimian to speak up.
“Certainly for too many years we have seen systemic racism in our society. The conversations need to happen. More importantly we need to create avenues where we can enact change, whether that’s legislation or social programs. For sure it’s reform, and not just police reform, but institutional reform.”
Elimimian said he’ll reach out to CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie this week to begin a dialogue.
Elimimian doesn’t claim to have the answer to such a deep-seated societal problem, but he has the platform and deeply feels the obligation to do more than merely cry out about the injustice.
“I’m tired of being upset. I’m tired of being sad. I’m tired of not seeing things change enough and I know a lot of people are. I know people outside of my skin colour are tired of this as well. I look forward to having those conversations with Randy and the CFL. We know the first step is let’s have the conversation because we know something has to be done.
“All I’ll ask of Randy is a commitment that we will discuss actionable items. A lot of people are sick and tired of it. I know a lot of people don’t condone it. The question is what actionable items can we put together to do our part to eradicate it.”
The CFL hasn’t shied away from social responsibility on other files, the “Diversity is Strength” campaign among them. It celebrated so-called trailblazers to inclusion like Obby Khan, Johnny Bright, Joey Moss and Jo-anne Polak.
Elimimian said he appreciates the fact that more people of colour win jobs as CFL head coaches and general managers, and he’s proud of the league and its players for taking an active role in social outreach in Canadian communities. But there’s more to be done, and Elimimian wants to provide leadership and the means for others to join the fight against racism.
“This is something we should be leading. This is something we should be doing, asking the questions. How can we put actionable items forward to initiate change and do our part?”
Elimimian said tackling the problem really begins with an expression of empathy. It’s the reason he became a spokesman for the CFL’S initiative against domestic violence.
“I didn’t experience domestic violence in my household. I didn’t understand it. But when I saw a video of a woman getting abused, I felt empathy.
That empathy forced me to ask, ‘What can I do?’ So, when I speak to these kids about domestic violence, it’s because I feel an obligation to help.”
The obligation to do whatever you can to eradicate racism, he said, should be felt by everyone.
“You don’t have to be black to stand up against injustice,” he said.
You don’t have to be American, either.
“Canada isn’t perfect and I’d be naive and ignorant to say racism is not alive and present here, as well,” he added. “Certainly I feel we all have a role to play, whether you’re in Canada or the U.S., to eradicate it from your country and society. I look at it as we all have that responsibility. If everybody thinks like that, what can I do to end it, that’s when change happens.”