Toronto - August 12, 2010: The CRRF is deeply concerned about two racist incidents, which were reported earlier this week in two distinct parts of Canada. In Saint John, Newfoundland, a racial slur was scrawled on a car. Two weeks earlier in the same part of the city, a swastika was spray-painted on a church community center and another car. In Richmond, B.C, two youths spray-painted racist graffiti in the stairway of a Chinese market at the Richmond Public Market on the week-end. The Richmond RCMP quickly arrested an 18-year-old and 16-year old male, who now face mischief charges.

Commenting on the Richmond, B.C, incident, Albert Lo, CRRF Chairperson noted:  “Whether isolated or not, racist slurs are never acceptable.  The authorities need to deliver an unmistakable message that these incidents will not be tolerated under any circumstances.  It is vital to nip this kind of behaviour in the bud, lest it festers into a more serious menace and threaten racial harmony and public safety in the community.”

The CRRF is of the opinion that each member of society has a responsibility to confront racism. We need to learn from the experience of each other how to fight racism, discrimination and prejudice. Public education, individual and collective responsibility, and the application of Canadian hate crime and other laws are the immediate remedies towards the elimination of racism. “It is clear from both incidents that racism still exists and that more needs to be done to confront and eliminate it”, said Ayman Al-Yassini, Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.