We do not tolerate hate statements
On Tuesday evening, I learned from a friend and colleague that a family in London Ont., was mowed down in cold blood with a vehicle while they were out enjoying a walk together. They were murdered for simply being Muslims in their hometown.
The family was identified as Salman Afzaal, his wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and Afzaal’s 74-year-old mother. The youngest of the family, nine-year old Fayez, remains in the hospital with serious injuries.
Last week, we heard the horrific news that the remains of 215 Indigenous children, who attended Kamloops Indian
Residential School in British Columbia, were found buried in an unmarked grave.
On the heels of the Indigenous children genocide discovery, this latest act of terrorism against Muslim Canadians has left many Canadians within Muslim and Indigenous communities with feelings of shock, fear and hurt. In spite these feelings, they and those working in allyship continue with their advocacy and activism to bring light to the realities of hate, violence, religious persecution, racism, xenophobia and colonization in Canada.
This is the most recent news, but we have seen numerous police killings, people dying in hospitals from lack of care and the list goes on. We hear words such as “shock,” “surprise,” “this is not Canada,” and “sudden” uttered to understanding the violence. We also hear questions such as “why,” “what is happening” and “what should we do”?
Canada has a history of violence, racism and hatred and we should not be surprised to see it come to fruition repeatedly and more consistently, even as we try to differentiate ourselves from other countries with violent histories.
I am shocked, saddened but not surprised, because there is nothing in our Canadian history to suggest we are unlikely to perpetuate these kinds of viciousness.
We cannot sit in fear and shock. Some individuals and organizations genuinely want to show solidarity to survivors in this time of need. Lowering flags and writing statements denouncing hate, violence and racism has become commonplace since the public execution of George Floyd. These passive activities are the new political fashion statements. How much weight do these gestures have after the 48-hours news cycle has ended and another shocking announcement is made?
The question to ask ourselves is, “What do these statements really mean?” Policy makers, politicians and decision-makers who shamelessly use these life-changing moments as photo opportunities are quick to gather on lawns, look solemn, take to the microphone and lay flowers. Frankly, these statements mean very little in the long-term; they may provide temporary comfort, support and solace to grieving families and communities, but unless these leaders take action, the violence will continue. There is no incentive to stop perpetuating hate and violence if nothing changes.
I am in the midst of completing a restorative justice training program and, I have to admit, when I heard these stories of violence and hate, I tried to imagine what the murderers of Indigenous children and Muslim families could say to survivors to make them feel better as they mourn their eternal losses.
The consequences for this racist, colonial, hateful and xenophobic carnage is on us as a Canadian society. We have blood on our hands for creating the opportunities that allow individuals and institutional leaders to wreak havoc on innocent people, including children and elders. This must stop immediately. As a nation, we can no longer afford to ignore or pretend we do not have a violent past.
Rather than writing statements about not tolerating hate, those in decision-making positions must listen and adapt the recommendations proposed by the activist communities across Turtle Island. This means enacting policies and legislation to pre-emptively deal with those who individually or systemically harm our citizens with racist, religious and colonial violence.