Groups to kick off Black History Month with measures to fight racism
"The tolerance of the use of the N-word in elementary and secondary schools contributes to the development of anti-Black racism that continues in the workplace."
Author of the article:Katelyn Thomas • Montreal Gazette Published Jan 31, 2023
Two anti-Black racism groups will kick off Black History Month on Wednesday by outlining measures to fight racism in Quebec, Canada and beyond.
They say inaction by all levels of government is contributing to the perpetuation of systemic racism. At a private school in Rigaud, they say, Black and Afro-descendant students have been spat on, had their hair pulled and been called the N-word with no adequate intervention.
“We’re kicking off Black History Month with certain things like enough is enough with regards to the neglect, so to speak, of federal and provincial governments when it comes to systemic racism,” said Joel DeBellefeuille, the founder and executive director of the Red Coalition. “The school is one of the examples that we’re including into what we’re going to do.”
DeBellefeuille said Quebec’s academic freedom law, Bill 32 — deemed controversial because it by extension allows university professors the right to voice racial slurs in academic settings — translates to situations like the one cited at Collège Bourget, a private elementary and high school.
“(It) is kind of the stepping stone to the continuation of systemic racism within the educational system,” DeBellefeuille said. “In elementary school, high school, there are no regulations … but now that a law says that you’re allowed to say the N-word (in higher education), what do you think teachers in the lower levels, so non-university level schooling, think about it? … It’s an absolutely crazy law, and we feel that that is a contributing factor to what’s happening.”
The Red Coalition is joining forces with the Black Class Action Secretariat — an organization that acts against anti-Black racism involving workers in Canada — for its announcement Wednesday.
“We regularly receive testimonials from Black workers who are strangely similar to what the young black students at Collège Bourget told us,” Alain Babineau, the director of the francophone section of the secretariat, said in a statement Monday. “The tolerance of the use of the N-word in elementary and secondary schools contributes to the development of anti-Black racism that continues in the workplace.”
The mother of Black students who attend Collège Bourget said in an anonymous statement shared by the Red Coalition her children no longer feel safe at the school.
Collège Bourget director general Philippe Bertrand, for his part, said the school proactively intervenes in situations “to create a harmonious and healthy climate so that all our students are able to feel respected and safe, regardless of their differences.”
“Unfortunately, we are not perfect and a long road remains to be travelled so that everyone can act with openness, tolerance and benevolence,” he added. “Racist incidents have happened in the past and will surely happen in the future. However, we do not tolerate them under any circumstances and act accordingly.”
Bertrand said staff are given training to help them understand the different lived experiences of students so they can intervene appropriately.
“We do not wish to deny a reality that exists and against which we take action,” he said. “We simply want to work hand in hand and improve things so that a climate of tolerance — free of racism — develops.”
Author of the article:Katelyn Thomas • Montreal Gazette Published Jan 31, 2023
Two anti-Black racism groups will kick off Black History Month on Wednesday by outlining measures to fight racism in Quebec, Canada and beyond.
They say inaction by all levels of government is contributing to the perpetuation of systemic racism. At a private school in Rigaud, they say, Black and Afro-descendant students have been spat on, had their hair pulled and been called the N-word with no adequate intervention.
“We’re kicking off Black History Month with certain things like enough is enough with regards to the neglect, so to speak, of federal and provincial governments when it comes to systemic racism,” said Joel DeBellefeuille, the founder and executive director of the Red Coalition. “The school is one of the examples that we’re including into what we’re going to do.”
DeBellefeuille said Quebec’s academic freedom law, Bill 32 — deemed controversial because it by extension allows university professors the right to voice racial slurs in academic settings — translates to situations like the one cited at Collège Bourget, a private elementary and high school.
“(It) is kind of the stepping stone to the continuation of systemic racism within the educational system,” DeBellefeuille said. “In elementary school, high school, there are no regulations … but now that a law says that you’re allowed to say the N-word (in higher education), what do you think teachers in the lower levels, so non-university level schooling, think about it? … It’s an absolutely crazy law, and we feel that that is a contributing factor to what’s happening.”
The Red Coalition is joining forces with the Black Class Action Secretariat — an organization that acts against anti-Black racism involving workers in Canada — for its announcement Wednesday.
“We regularly receive testimonials from Black workers who are strangely similar to what the young black students at Collège Bourget told us,” Alain Babineau, the director of the francophone section of the secretariat, said in a statement Monday. “The tolerance of the use of the N-word in elementary and secondary schools contributes to the development of anti-Black racism that continues in the workplace.”
The mother of Black students who attend Collège Bourget said in an anonymous statement shared by the Red Coalition her children no longer feel safe at the school.
Collège Bourget director general Philippe Bertrand, for his part, said the school proactively intervenes in situations “to create a harmonious and healthy climate so that all our students are able to feel respected and safe, regardless of their differences.”
“Unfortunately, we are not perfect and a long road remains to be travelled so that everyone can act with openness, tolerance and benevolence,” he added. “Racist incidents have happened in the past and will surely happen in the future. However, we do not tolerate them under any circumstances and act accordingly.”
Bertrand said staff are given training to help them understand the different lived experiences of students so they can intervene appropriately.
“We do not wish to deny a reality that exists and against which we take action,” he said. “We simply want to work hand in hand and improve things so that a climate of tolerance — free of racism — develops.”
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Archive
2023
January
Family of Montreal man killed while unlawfully jailed wants systemic racism inquiryLa famille de l’homme demande une enquête sur le racisme systémiqueSystemic racism inquiry called for by family of man who died after being pepper-sprayed at Bordeaux prisonDétenu mort à la prison de Bordeaux: une coalition exige plus de transparence sur le milieu carcéralUN GROUPE ANTIRACISTE RÉCLAME UNE ENQUÊTE PUBLIQUE SUR LA MORT DU DÉTENU DE BORDEAUXRights group seeks public inquiry into death of man in Montreal jailLobby group seeks public inquiry in Montreal man's jail deathAnti-racism group calls for release of video in connection with Montreal jail deathCivil rights group calls for inquiry into death of illegally jailed 21-year-old black manUne coalition réclame la publication de la vidéo de l’interventionLobby group seeks public inquiry, release of video in Montreal man’s jail deathAnti-racism group claims Quebec told Longueuil police to ignore court order on racial profilingAllison Hanes: Montreal prison death demands urgent answersRed Coalition: Quebec ministry told Longueuil police force to defy court order on racial profilingQuebec told Longueuil police to disregard court order on racial profiling, says anti-racism groupCivil rights group accuses Quebec of covering up race-based police dataQue s’est-il passé à Bordeaux ?Public inquiry ordered into jail death of illegally detained Montreal manPublic inquest to be held into death of man in Montreal jailChief coroner orders public inquiry into death of 21-year-old illegally detained at Bordeaux jailCoroner orders public inquiry into Montreal man's jail deathIl y aura une enquête publique du coroner sur la mort de Nicous SpringRed Coalition calling for investigation into systemic racism in Quebec jailsChief Coroner orders public inquiry into death of Nicous SpringPolice union head tells Montreal's new chief: staffing shortages 1st, community policing 2ndPROFILAGE RACIAL: UNE PLAINTE OFFICIELLE DÉPOSÉE CONTRE LA VILLE DE LONGUEUILCoalition alleges contempt of court against LongueuilPROFILAGE RACIAL: «LA CAQ DOIT TENIR SES PROMESSES», ESTIME LA COALITION ROUGEGroups to kick off Black History Month with measures to fight racism
February
Anti-racism group accuses Montreal-area school of systemic racismCalls grow to change streets named after Christopher Columbus on island of MontrealQuebec sisters afraid to go school, say racism complaints ignoredGroup says private school near Montreal ignored racism complaintsCas de racisme et de cyberintimidation au Collège Bourget de RigaudUn citoyen souhaite «annuler» Christophe Colomb à Pointe-ClaireRACISME ET CYBERINTIMIDATION: LE COLLÈGE BOURGET MIS EN DEMEUREBlack anti-racism groups lob volleys at Canada and QuebecProminent Quebeckers voice support for Trudeau’s anti-Islamophobia representativeProminent Québecers plead for federal anti-Islamophobia rep to be given a chancePetition against Bill 21 tabled at National AssemblyMontreal police brotherhood says it's too easy to blame its members for racial profilingLongueuil, other Quebec police slow in implementing race-based data frameworkAucune accusation ne sera portée contre les policiers qui ont tué Junior OlivierCalls for police accountability as officers who fatally shot Jean René Olivier face no chargesLack of care on Loyola property "unacceptable":DeBellefeuilleGroups call to cancel puppet show featuring minstrel characterUn spectacle pour enfants sème la controverse dans l’ouest de MontréalUn exemple de « racisme systémique », dénoncent des associationsLocal Montreal play carries on despite upset over controversial puppetFamily of man killed by Repentigny police says lawsuit incomingLa mère de Jean-René Junior Olivier poursuit la Ville de RepentignyLa mère de Jean-René Junior Olivier, abattu par des policiers de Repentigny en août 2021, a déposé une poursuite contre la Ville de RepentignyFamily of Black man killed by Repentigny police files to sue city for $430K in damages
March
Red Coalition alleges SPVM withholding findings on racial profilingAnti-racism group says Montreal police withheld findings of racial profiling reportUN GROUPE ANTIRACISTE AFFIRME QUE LE SPVM A RETENU LES CONCLUSIONS D'UN RAPPORT SUR LE PROFILAGE RACIALThis boarded-up building lays bare Montreal's crumbling social housing systemCity of Longueuil facing contempt charges related to police racial profilingLE PROFILAGE RACIAL EXERCÉ PAR LA POLICE DANS LA MIRE DU MINISTRE BONNARDELQuebec Bill on police practices facing criticismEthics complaint filed against Montreal executive committee chairperson"Smokescreen; a dog and pony show"City of Longueuil, Que. gets postponement of contempt of court charges
May
Pearson Board denies allegations of systemic racism, assaultAllegations of discrimination and racism at Montreal-area elementary schoolPlea to integrate permanent residents into Quebec police forcesPlaidoyer pour intégrer des résidents permanents au sein des corps policiers québécoisPolicier au Québec: un métier encore fermé aux résidents permanents
July
Red Coalition to SPVM: amend random stops policyLa Coalition rouge presse le SPVM de «réviser» sa Politique d’interpellationRed Coalition demanding Montreal police review street checks policyUn groupe de pression veut recenser l’ethnicité des personnes interpelléesAnti-racism group wants Montreal police to review street check policy'Unusual time to be driving': Anti-racism group calls on Montreal police to modify street checksKirkland resident says he was pulled over in NDG for being BlackLaval police handcuff, illegally search Black military man’s home after street check: Red CoalitionLaval man accuses police of racial profiling, intends to file human rights complaintMilitary aerospace engineer says he was racially profiled by Laval policeCanadian Forces’ member out for run ‘mocked,’ alleges racial profiling by policeMan alleges random police stop in South Shore led to illegal search, fine for contraband cigarettesMontreal man to file human rights complaint over traffic stop by Roussillon police‘Gross incompetence:’ Man ticketed for contraband cigarettes says he was racially profiled
2022
January
February
April
Quebec study exposes dramatic increase in police fundingNew initiative asks Montreal, Ottawa residents to film police interventionsMontrealers to have a say in hiring next police chief'We need to humanize the police': Que. police association aims to improve public image with new campaignVideo shows Montreal police officer pushing homeless man into concrete block; SPVM investigatingSPVM investigation follows video appearing to show abuse by two Montreal police officers
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