FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS STATEMENT Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Contact:
Justin Kong, Executive Director Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter executivedirector@ccnctoronto.ca 416-596-0833
Project 1907 | info@project1907.org | *no video interviews please
Note: Due to a commitment to confidentiality, organizations are not able to speak to any details of reported incidents and can comment on data in the aggregate only.
MORE ANTI-ASIAN RACIST INCIDENTS REPORTED PER CAPITA IN CANADA THAN US ACCORDING TO FIRST NATIONAL REPORT
OVER 600 INCIDENTS REPORTED SINCE THE ONSET OF COVID-19
September 9, 2020 – Since the onset of COVID-19, over 600 incidents of anti-Asian racism in Canada have been reported to elimin8hate.org and covidracism.ca. Attacks against the Asian Canadian community were reported from 7 provinces. The national report combining the data from both sites confirms the following disturbing trends and patterns:
● Canada has a higher number of anti-Asian racism reports per capita than the United States. British Columbia has the most reported incidents per capita of any sub-national region in North America, followed by California, New York and Ontario.1
● Women are impacted the most, reporting 60% of all incidents. In British Columbia, women are even more disproportionately impacted, accounting for nearly 70% of all reported incidents.
● Verbal abuse and harassment are widespread, occurring in 65% of all reported incidents. This includes racial slurs, threats and derogatory remarks.
● Nearly 30% of reported incidents are assault, including targeted coughing, spitting and physical attacks and violence.
This community-led, national collaboration of data collection on racism is the first of its kind, led by Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter, Project 1907, Vancouver Asian Film Festival and Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice. These leading organizations on social justice for Asians come together on the anniversary of the 1907 Anti- Asian Riots in Vancouver to release joint findings, reflect on the persistence of white supremacy in Canada and call for action.
The 1907 Anti-Asian Riots were sparked by an anti-immigration rally led by white supremacists, targeting Chinese, Japanese and Punjabi Sikh communities. The rally exploded into 3 days of violence and vandalism in Vancouver’s Chinatown and Japantown and marked the commencement of a string of racist federal policies that systematically prohibited Asian immigration to Canada. Although thousands of people are estimated to have participated in the riots, records show that only 1 person was convicted of any offense. Over 100 years later, this release of disturbing data points to the pervasive racism and white supremacy still woven in the fabric of Canada.
Organizers with Project 1907 said, “The recent surge in anti-Asian violence, vandalism and xenophobia is reminiscent of the 1907 Anti-Asian Riots and the decades of targeted discrimination that followed. Many seniors in our communities say they haven’t experienced or feared such intense levels of hate since the mid 1900s.”
“These disturbing data, particularly when viewing in contrast to the US, illustrate the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic remains deeply racialized. Government policies and all parties need to put an end to anti-Asian and anti-Chinese rhetoric that stirs up hateful attacks and prejudice against all Asian Canadians,” said Justin Kong, Executive Director, Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter.
Commenting on the new report, Marie-Claude Landry, Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, said, “Confronting and countering racism in Canada is going to take all of us. This important tool gives people a way to speak out against hate, intolerance and aggression. It also gives us valuable data on racist and xenophobic incidents in Canada.”
Anti-Asian racist attacks are taking place against a backdrop of structural racism and violent histories that also affect Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities. Will brazen and violent racist attacks be part of our country’s ‘new normal’ of donning face masks, physical distancing and quarantining?
“Without dedicated attention and resources from the government to engage communities to combat racism, Asian Canadians are bracing for a new reality of our country that “normalizes” scapegoating, race baiting and unabashed racist attacks,” said Amy Go, President, Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice.
The four lead organizations call on the Federal Government to include an anti-racism strategy in its post pandemic recovery plan. A just recovery from the pandemic includes putting people’s health and wellbeing first; strengthening the social safety net and providing relief directly to people; prioritizing the needs of workers and communities; building resilience to prevent future crises; building solidarity and equity across communities, generations and borders; and upholding Indigenous rights and working in partnership with Indigenous people.
“Concrete policies that put equitable recovery at the forefront must be implemented recognizing how Black people, Asians and other people of color, and especially those who are economically marginalized – remain disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and its fallout. Migrant workers and undocumented people who have been working on the frontline throughout the pandemic need status now. And all levels of government must engage more with grassroots groups to ensure policies are aligned with an equitable recovery for all,” added Justin Kong, Executive Director, Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter.
“These findings should not be shocking to Canadians. Racism has existed European colonizers arrived in this country. To be since the first better, we must do better. Saying “sorry” is very Canadian, but this must be followed up by concrete actions to drive change forward. As Provincial and Federal governments budget for an economic recovery, this opportune time in history to dismantle these systems that oppress, marginalize and exclude. Racialized people need to be seen and heard and represented in leadership roles in the corporate world, government, institutions and media,” said Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
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1 Calculated using own data and information from Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council. (2020). Stop AAPI Hate National Report.
