Letter to the Editor

This letter was sent to the Richmond News by my friend Mary Wilson, who is also a friend of the Japanese Canadian community. She is a retired social worker who worked for many years at Mt. St. Joseph Hospital, periodically assisting a Japanese Canadian senior and family with long-term care services. She established and has organized Richmond Black History Month since 2016. She has volunteered at GVJCCA events and joined our many discussions over the last few years about additional ways for communities to work together to combat racism. Her letter presented here makes it clear the time for action and change is now. The GVJCCA stands with Black People in Canada, the US and around the world against the oppression, injustice and too often, deadly systemic racism, perpetrated against them.

Judy Hanazawa
President, Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association


LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I grew up Black in America with too many stories like that of George Floyd. Stories of racism, injustice, inequality, police injustice towards my community. No matter how many times it happens, nothing prepares me for the reality of the situation. To turn on the tv and watch George Floyd being killed by policemen in public, dying in the street, in pain, begging for breath left me speechless, extremely sad and in a state of disbelief. Is this what they’re saying, that Black men are expendable!!! our fathers, brothers, husbands, friends??? What was once done to us by the police in the dark is now done for all to see. Is the killing of Black people being normalized!!!!! The Civil Rights Movement of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X continues, RACISM, INJUSTICE AND INEQUALITY MUST STOP.

WE NEED TO SPEAK OUT WHERE EVER WE SEE INJUSTICE, INJUSTICE TOWARDS ONE GROUP IS INJUSTICE FOR ALL.

The death of George Floyd has been a call for action to the world. We all need to stand together to fight RACISM AND INJUSTICE.

Thank you to the responders against racism directed toward the Black Community and all communities. Whoever and wherever you are. Non-violence is the key as spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  

COMMUNITIES NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER

WE NEED TO DO MORE  TO FIGHT RACISM, INJUSTICE AND INEQUALITY

Mary  Wilson
Richmond Black History Month Organizer