The SEIU-West Workers of Colour Multicultural Mentorship Committee (WoCMMC) and the Young Workers Committee (YWC) have been partnering for the past few years to give away Stop Racism shirts to our SEIU-West members.
Members are sharing their reasons why they wear their shirts all year round. Have a read:
- Whether it's obvious or subtle, racial discrimination touches the everyday lives of Indigenous, Black, and other racialized people and communities across Canada.
- Racism contributes to injustice and inequality.
- Racial discrimination takes in different forms—from anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism, to anti-Asian racism and Islamophobia, to Antisemitism, sexism, ageism, to name a few.
- It affects many people in our communities and many victims don't know how to cope with experiencing it every single day of their lives.
- We must stop racial discrimination. We cannot sit and pretend it's not happening.
- Being aware and calling out racism whenever you witness, hear, or experience it will not only makes the doer aware the behaviour or language is offensive, but also makes a choice to make a difference is a huge impact not only to us, but to others who are victimized every day.
- We need to stand up together to stop racism and to combat this learned behaviour in order to unlearn it.
Political Action and Awareness Committee:
We wear our Stop Racism shirts throughout the year because racism is ongoing, it never stops until we stop it. We want someone to challenge us to keep the conversation going. We want to support our coworkers and family because there are still racists here. We want to educate others.
Education Committee:
Our reasons of wearing our Stop Racism shirts, other than on the designated day, is because people need to constantly be reminded that racism exists every day, in our communities and workplaces. We need a daily reminder of how our actions, whether intended to or not, can hurt others. We believe we all need to take a stand. It is our steady reminder to continue to grow and to "be a better me". Wearing this shirt makes us proud. It shows everyone what we stand for and believe in. We wear the shirt proudly!
First Nations Métis Inuit Committee:
Let's help stop racism by wearing our black shirts! Let's spread the word and stand up to racism in our workplace in our daily lives, today and every day!