As we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Canada’s unions are making note of statistics released last week showing a dramatic increase in reported hate crimes.
According to Statistics Canada hate crimes targeting race or ethnicity that were reported to police increased by 80 per cent between 2019 and 2020. Notably, hate crimes against East or Southeast Asians went up 301 per cent.
“These statistics are shocking, but at the same time it shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the open demonstrations of white supremacy we’ve seen in our streets recently,” said Lily Chang, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “It’s time to have some very important conversations about the growing threat of the far right, and labour’s responsibility when it comes to fighting deep, systemic racism.”
The labour movement is integral in the fight against racism, anti-Indigeneity, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of CLC’s Anti-Racism Task Force report, drafted based on testimony and submissions from activists across the country.
“This ground-breaking report brought together labour and community activists, and we still work together to educate and mobilize against the dangers posed by white supremacy,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the CLC.
To mark the anniversary, CLC will be reviewing and updating the recommendations, reporting on the work that’s been done and the work left to do.
To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426
