On 21 March 1960, the township of Sharpeville, South Africa was rocked by violence when police opened fire
and killed 69 people peacefully demonstrating against apartheid "pass laws”. In 1966 the UN General Assembly
established the day to remind everyone to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
A Sad Truth
Racial discrimination still exists and it still hurts everyone.
In fact, racial discrimination is being reinvented in new and frightening ways:
- The new rules regarding air flights primarily target people from Muslim countries.
- China is blamed for greenhouse gas emissions, when in reality the per capita emissions from China are
lower than the greenhouse gas emissions from Canada, Germany, Spain and a number of other countries.
- Africa is the epicentre of global poverty and yet the Federal Government is moving away from providing
aid to a number of African countries.
- Canadian mining companies in Guatemala are creating widespread environmental damage and violating human
rights
- Organizations supporting human rights for Palestinians are being increasingly labelled as anti
Semitic.
- The siege on Gaza continues denying basic aid to residents.
- Aboriginal activist Leonard Peltier is still in an American prison serving time for a crime he did not
commit.
What Can We Do?
It is not hopeless. Small steps make a difference.
- Say no to racist jokes.
- If you hear a racist comment, challenge it. Don’t wait for someone else to speak up.
- Celebrate the fact that people speak many languages. It makes the world richer.
- Learn about history. The last residential school in Canada was closed in 1996.
- Start or join a CUPW Local Human Rights Committee.
- Develop bargaining demands that strengthen our human rights.
Our future will be shaped by our solidarity.
Let’s start building it through our everyday actions.
