Nanaimo anti-racism rally postponed due to threats of violence
B.C.'s Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives says she's disappointed to hear that an anti-racism rally planned for the Nanaimo and Ladysmith area was postponed over the weekend due to reported threats of violence.
Rachna Singh says that an anti-racism car rally, hosted by the Resilience BC anti-racism network, was pushed back after organizers "received threats of physical violence" on the weekend.
The rally was set to take place around National Indigenous Peoples Day, when many communities across the province were raising the flags of local First Nations or hosting events that spread awareness and support for residential school survivors on Monday.
"These threats are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said Singh in a statement Tuesday. "I strongly condemn the behaviour of these individuals and offer my support to the staff and organizers of the car rally and all their community partners."
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog says the city shares the province's disappointment with the postponed event.
"On behalf of Nanaimo City Council I wish to express my sincere disappointment in response to the recent postponement of a Resilience BC anti-racism network rally in Nanaimo due to threats of violence," he said in a statement Tuesday.
"Anti-racism rallies are not 'Anti-White' rallies," he said. "As a society, we must accept that unfortunately, even in 2021, racism exists. And, in order to have a future free from racism and hate, we must learn and take actionable steps to end both racism and hate.
Singh says that the recent threats highlight the need for British Columbians to continue standing against racism in the province.
"We must come together as a society to speak out against racism and show our support for Nanaimo and Ladysmith, as well as other communities in the province that are experiencing racism," she said.
Singh did not say when the event will be rescheduled, but promised to attend the next car rally.
"The threats of violence will not scare or intimidate us into submission. It only strengthens our resolve," she said.
Anyone who witnesses or is the victim of a hate crime in B.C. is asked to contact the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network online here for support, says Singh.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca