It’s up to all of us in B.C. to stand up to racism
As a parent, I will never know the experience of having to tell my sons that their skin colour is a threat to their safety. But that is the hard truth about the lived reality for far too many British Columbians.
Like you, I was horrified to see what happened to George Floyd in Minnesota. As we watch events unfold in the United States, we should not be complacent in thinking what happens south of the border does not happen here.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve heard from people in B.C. communities directly affected by recent hate crimes. The stories they shared of fear, frustration, anger, and resilience resonated deeply with me. Whether it’s racist graffiti or brazen, racially-motivated assaults on Asian people, we need to listen to the everyday experiences of people impacted by systemic racism.
British Columbia is known for its multiculturalism and community-minded people. We are a province of immigrants from all around the world. A province that is walking the path to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. But none of this erases the past.
Racism is deeply rooted in our history and institutions. From colonization and the atrocities of residential schools, to turning away South Asian immigrants aboard the Komagata Maru in 1914 and today’s ignorant targeting of Asian communities. People of colour experience being a
Canadian and a British Columbian differently and that experience is shaped by the legacy of our decisions over the last 150 years.
Now is the time when we need to hear the very real concerns of people from racialized backgrounds and address them, so we can build a more equitable and inclusive future.
Our government has taken some good first steps, including the reinstatement of the Human Rights Commission and the creation of the ResilienceBC anti-racism network. But we have much more work to do to make our province a safe place for people who are too often the targets of oppression and hate.
We must all come together to stand against racism. I am proud that everyone in the legislature has joined together to publicly denounce racism under the non-partisan leadership of our Lieutenant-governor, the Honourable Janet Austin. The #DifferentTogether pledge reaffirms inclusion and diversity as fundamental values in our province, values that help overcome discrimination and acts of hatred. The pledge asks people to commit to speaking up and opposing racism and hate in all its forms. I encourage all British Columbians to take this pledge with us.
In these difficult times, I call on everyone to see the humanity in each other. If you have not suffered from discrimination, seek out stories from people who have. Hearing these stories will not magically solve racism in our society but it’s a start.
I have never experienced the fear and targeted oppression that too many have, but I am in the privileged position to hear about experiences from people across the province.
It’s up to all of us to stand up against racism, but especially those of us with privilege. We can challenge racist remarks when we hear them. We can condemn stereotypes and scapegoating, and correct misinformation designed to place blame where it doesn’t belong. We can report hate crimes and racist incidents when we see them happen in our communities or places of work. We can let our friends know we support them when they’re feeling unsafe.
I am an optimist by nature. I have hope that we will all work for a better tomorrow, but I also recognize that hope is not enough.
Our government will continue to work with people of colour to implement the institutional change that so many are calling for and that British Columbia needs.
Together, we will build a better world.