An event held in an effort to address discrimination at the University of Alberta attracted students, politicians from all parties, and someone whose own recent experience with racism started a movement of its own.
Back on September 20, a number of posters with an anti-immigration and racist message, were seen around the U of A campus.
The posters were quickly met with condemnation the day they were found.
“I couldn’t believe that we had people at the U of A who would resort to messaging like that,” U of A Student’s Union President Fahim Rahman said.
A week after the posters were found, a ‘Turban Tie-in’ was held as an act of solidarity – something one of the organizers called a solid response.
“Right now, we’re putting forward our vision of Canada and I feel confident saying our visin is a little more popular than theirs,” Arundeep Singh Sandhu said.
Also at the event was Jesse Lipscombe, a local actor who confronted an individual who yelled a racial slur at him in early September.
The entire incident was caught on camera, as Lipscombe had been shooting a commercial at the time – it led to a civic campaign to combat racism, homophobia and misogyny called Make It Awkward.
“You know something gross happens you have the power to turn that into something amazing,” Lipscombe said.
Alongside Lipscombe, and a number of U of A students, Alberta Party leader Greg Clark participated. He said he felt sick to his stomach when he heard about the posters – but he was glad to take part Tuesday.
“This is who we are as Canadians, we come together,” Clark said.
The U of A’s president was also present Tuesday, and threw his full support behind the event.
“It’s an opportunity for us to stand up as Canadians, not only members of the University of Alberta, but as Canadians and say ‘This is unacceptable, we are a welcome inclusive society’,” U of A President David Turpin said.
Turpin told CTV News the investigation into the posters, and whoever put them up, is still underway.
With files from Susan Amerongen
