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Members gathered at the Unifor office in Halifax on March 20 to recognize the upcoming International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and take part in the Unifor Atlantic Black, Indigenous, and Workers of Colour (BIWOC) Committee workshop, Silence Hate.
Members heard from retired Halifax Regional Police Detective Constable Craig Upshaw, the first full-time Hate Crime Investigator in Atlantic Canada and a former Diversity Officer. Upshaw provides education and training in hate, equity, diversity and inclusion.
“Today is a day to honour those who have suffered from discrimination, whose voices were silenced and whose rights were denied simply because of who they are,” said Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. “It is a day to recognize the progress that has been made through a ton of courage, resilience and collective effort.”
Speakers reminded attendees that racism remains deeply rooted in our country and communities, and that Unifor has a responsibility to confront and eliminate it and all forms of oppression that seek to divide workers.
“Today we recommit ourselves, not just to the fight for better working conditions, but to the fight for each other,” Murray said. “Let’s choose courage over silence, unity over division and respect and love over hate. Because when we silence racism, we make space for something stronger - true solidarity.”
The history of March 21 was shared, recounting how, in 1960, the Sharpeville Massacre saw Black South Africans march peacefully to protest apartheid pass laws restricting their freedom of movement—only to be met with brutal violence that shocked the world.
A moment of silence was held for the 69 people killed and the more than 180 injured, followed by a discussion on the realities of racial discrimination that continue today, both globally and here in Canada.
“Silencing hate doesn’t mean pretending it’s not there,” said Unifor Director of Equity and Racial Justice Tricia Wilson. “It means calling it out. It means not letting it slide. It means deciding together, that this is not who we are.”
The Silence Hate workshop explored why hate incidents are often underreported and examined the social and community impacts that result. Together, participants deepened their understanding of what hate is, how it shows up in workplaces and communities, and how we as a union and as individuals can take meaningful action to challenge and speak out against hate.
“We gather not only to remember, but to act,” said Atlantic BIWOC Committee Chairperson Lorna Bowden. “Confronting racism isn’t optional, it’s essential to building fairness in our workplaces and communities.”
The event concluded with a call to action, encouraging local unions to take part in initiatives that promote equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. As attendees left, there was a shared understanding that remembrance must be matched with action—and that the work of eliminating racial discrimination continues every day.
View the photo gallery from the event here.
