On March 21, to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Teresa Armstrong, MPP for London-Fanshawe, hosted a community discussion and launched a campaign help combat discrimination through a Pledge to End Racism.
MPP Teresa Armstrong Hosts Community Meeting on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21, 2019
LONDON – On March 21, to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Teresa Armstrong, MPP for London-Fanshawe, hosted a community discussion and launched a campaign help combat discrimination through a Pledge to End Racism.
“As part of my role as the former NDP Critic for the Ontario Anti-Racism Directorate I worked with members of the community who have first-hand experiences, and saw the necessity of implementing a tool to combat these issues in a meaningful and tangible way.” Armstrong said. “The pledge was an idea we thought could help start a conversation on race, discrimination, and equality in our own community, and hopefully others.”
Armstrong was joined by members of the public and representatives from local organizations such as The London Multicultural Community Association, LUSO Community Services, and London Police Services, among others.
Various requests for action on this issue to the provincial government have included:
- - Restore and fully fund the Anti-Racism Secretariat
- - Make the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People the law in Ontario
- - Mark January 29 as the annual day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia
- - Abolish carding and delete all data collected from this unconstitutional practice
- - Ensure that every MPP and public servant undergoes regular anti-racism education and training
“Given recent local and global events, it has become imperative that we do more to combat racism, work towards eliminating discrimination in all forms, and promote an inclusive community”, said Armstrong.