‘Slave auction’ a case of ‘textbook racism’: Lindo

Apology not enough, says Kitchener Centre MPP

Progressive Conservative candidate Stephen Lecce apologizing for his participation in a “slave auction” when he was a university student and calling it “inappropriate” is not enough, says Kitchener Centre MPP — and NDP candidate — Laura Mae Lindo.

“A slave auction is actually textbook racism,” said Lindo in an interview Wednesday, hours after Lecce apologized for his actions. “A slave auction should be recognized as problematic, as harmful, traumatizing and dismissive of an entire system upon which all of our social fabric is built.”

Lindo said Lecce, who oversaw two reviews at two different schools on anti-Black racism, one of them at a school in Kitchener, should have known better.

Lecce apologized Wednesday after a published report about a socalled slave auction 16 years ago during his time as a fraternity leader at a university.

PressProgress, an outlet founded and funded by the Broadbent Institute, published a story Tuesday alleging that as a Western student Lecce participated in a 2006 “slave auction” at Sigma Chi.

In a statement, Lecce says the event was inappropriate and “in no way” reflects who he is as a person and he unreservedly apologizes.

Lecce, who still serves as education minister during the provincial election campaign, says he will continue to “passionately advance the interests of all Ontarians” regardless of faith, heritage, orientation or race.

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca says the circumstances are deeply troubling, but it is not for him, as someone who has never experienced racism, to say whether Lecce’s apology suffices.

Western University doesn’t formally recognize fraternities and has no formal affiliation with them.

Lindo said Lecce’s apology didn’t go far enough because he didn’t call it what it is — anti-Black racism.

“It makes the community feel like he doesn’t quite understand the impact of the decision to host a slave auction,” she said. “Racism isn’t about being appropriate or inappropriate. It’s about systems that dehumanize people and the ongoing impact of those systems that resonate in our schools today.”

Lindo said Lecce should know that “saying this is racist and I’ve learned” is a different message. An apology allows the person to show that he or she understands the harm, she said.

“That is what is missing from the two-line statement,” she said.

Asked if Lecce should step down, Lindo said it’s worrisome that an education minister, who worked with racialized communities on anti-Black racism, can’t say the word himself.

“You can’t expect him to lead us,” she said.

‘‘ A slave auction should be recognized as problematic, as harmful, traumatizing and dismissive of an entire system upon which all of our social fabric is built.

LAURA MAE LINDO KITCHENER CENTRE MPP