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In light of the recent rise in hate-based violence, Unifor is proud to host a round-table discussion to address racism and Islamophobia before Canadian Council gets under way in Halifax.
A panel of experts, advocates and activists will gather for a frank discussion this evening on how to forge meaningful alliances with communities and organizations, and take effective action against racial and religious intolerance.
“We are hoping that activists who are attending find themselves equipped with concrete strategies and tools to address these issues in their workplaces and in their communities,” said Christine Maclin, Unifor Director of Human Rights. “The round-table bears testimony to Unifor’s commitment to equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion.”
The roundtable will take place on Thursday, August 16, 6 pm – 8 pm, in Room C1 at the Halifax Convention Centre.
The panel includes representatives from a variety of social justice organizations, grassroots advocacy groups, labor activists, academia, and government bodies. The panel includes:
- Janet Dench, Executive Director, Canadian Council for Refugees
- Erica Violet Lee, Organizer, Idle No More
- Nuzhat Jafri, President, Canadian Council of Muslim Women
- Dr. Lynn Jones, Chair, Global African Congress – Nova Scotia chapter (panel moderator)
- Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director, and
- Robyn Maynard, Author of Policing Black Lives: State violence in Canada from slavery to the present
The round-table invokes a timely discussion about racism and anti-immigrant hostility. In recent years, Canada has borne witness to vandalism at mosques, and tragic deaths of Muslim Canadians and Indigenous youth as a result of racially motivated violence. In addition to this, white supremacist rallies have been helped and immigrants and refugees are targeted at the border. Anti -black racism, police violence, and racial profiling of youth and people of colour is still going on. The current climate in Canada and beyond requires labour activists to reflect and act when the system too often fails to bring justice to victims, their families and communities.
This round-table offers a platform to strengthen a unified front against those that seek to divide and actively threaten Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, Muslims, migrants and refugees. Tonight is an opportunity to foster conversations and make commitments to strengthen the diversity that is integral to Canada.
