In the past few days, during demonstrations on Parliament Hill, Canadians witnessed the vile display the hateful genocidal symbols of Nazi swastikas, and the flying of Confederate flags - symbols of racist slavery- at the very centre of Canadian democracy.
It was appalling that the Nazi flag was being waved steps away from the Hall of Honour where we commemorate 45,000 Canadians- including my uncle Patrick- who gave their lives fighting Nazism.
This week, I will be re-tabling a Private Member’s Bill to amend the Criminal Code (banning symbols of hate) to prevent anyone from selling and displaying symbols that promote hatred and violence against identifiable groups. It is a tool designed to address the growing violence and hatred that we see in Canada. Our own communities of New Westminster and Burnaby are not immune from this growing extremism.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a harsh light on the deep socio-economic inequalities experienced by the most vulnerable populations in Canada. Tragically, we are witnessing a considerable increase in Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny in our society. We see rising rates of racism and violent crimes against Indigenous people, Black, Asian and other marginalized communities and an increase in the number of hate groups in Canada. Yet symbols of hate are freely displayed and sold across our country. Other countries have protected their citizens by banning these symbols of hate. It is time for Canada to do the same.
Canadians are tired of symbolic gestures. The time for rhetoric is over: the time for action is now. Banning symbols of hatred like Nazi swastikas or Ku Klux Klan insignias is more important now than ever for all Canadians to feel safer.
Everyone has the right to feel welcomed, secure and respected in their community. Allowing these symbols of hatred to be freely and indiscriminately sold in stores or publicly displayed is retraumatizing for people who have been, and continue to be, targets of violence and oppression. Symbols that have been used to incite violence against people have no place in our society.
I hope that the Trudeau government and all MPs from all parties will support this bill and work with us to ensure symbols of hate aren’t tolerated in any way and to make our communities better for everyone.
With hate crimes and racism on the rise across Canada, it is critical that the federal government prioritizes and concretely addresses systemic racism and discrimination for a just recovery, where no one is left behind. We must condemn all forms of hate in our communities.
Peter Julian is the Member of Parliament for the riding of New Westminster-Burnaby.
