We need to eradicate racism

The Afro Canadian Caribbean Association (ACCA) condemns the most recent blatant acts of racism and racially motivated police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, along with the recent killing of Ahmaud Arbery in Atlanta.

We are acutely aware that racism does not stop the border. In fact, anti-Black bias is a daily reality faced here in Hamilton. The recent hate crime report by the Hamilton Police Service stated that Black Hamiltonians were targeted in 34 of the 38 racial incidents.

As Canadians, we take pride in our multiculturalism, yet in too many communities in our country, African Canadians experience racism that is manifested in racial profiling, high unemployment, underemployment, health disparity outcomes and the overrepresentation of African Canadian children in child welfare systems.

The impact of racism and discrimination create systemic barriers that continue to prevent African Canadians from participating equitably in Canadian society.

We are disheartened by the unrelenting attacks and killing of Blacks and the weaponization of Black bodies both in Canada and the United States.

The ACCA is committed to working collaboratively to address anti-Black racism through advocacy and the provision of programs for youth and the broader community.

We urge Hamiltonians to take sustainable action to eradicate racism and discrimination. We urge our local city officials to provide necessary supports to organizations working to address racism across our city. Evelyn Myrie, president