President Steenkamp: Fight racism and stand up for human rights

Sunday, March 21, is the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day is observed on March 21 in memory of the day in 1960 when police in Sharpeville, South Africa, shot and killed 69 women, men and children at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid “pass laws”. These laws — a centrepiece of segregation and the Apartheid system — were designed to control where Black and other “non-white” South Africans could live, work and travel inside the country.

The theme of this year’s International Day, “youth standing up against racism,” is a call to all of us to stand up against racial discrimination. This theme is especially fitting given the activism of young Indigenous leaders across our county and the role of youth in the Black Lives Matter movement. The shocking incidences of anti-Asian racism in the last few days are yet another reminder of the deadly violence engendered by this hateful creed and of our duty to be actively anti-racist each and every day. At Royal Roads, we will be guided by the exceptional work done by the Anti-Racism Task Force as we seek a path ahead towards justice, equality and inclusion.

These issues have also been compounded in the last year by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many young people, especially those from diverse backgrounds, face not only resurgent racism, but also a disruption in their education, reduced job prospects and a limited ability to socialize and participate in public life. Through all that, they are the ones showing the way. Let’s all fight racism and stand up for human rights.

I hope you’ll join me in this critical work.  On social media please consider using the official hashtags: #fightracism #Standup4humanrights