Mohammed Hashim told OMNI News that systemic racism is something minority groups have been battling for decades, and continues to be a major issue people are fighting today.
In recent years there have been numerous attacks against mosques and other places of worship – a worrying trend Hashim said will only get worse if left unaddressed.
“Systemic racism has existed….well, ever since the system was created,” Hashim said.
“Whether that may be reforming the police, or the way our mental health services are provided, (addressing) disparities in access to health care, there is lots of room for us to move forward,” he said.
Covering up the injustices, doesn’t make them go away. We need a more realistic representation of who we are, what we did, and how we got to today. Starting with a renewed commitment in education. Time to change #BlackedOutHistory https://t.co/GShH1z8syr
— Mohammed Hashim (@mohashim) October 27, 2020
The CRRF is also calling for stricter regulations against hate speech online, as neo-Nazi and white supremacy groups organize and share their extremist ideology on social networking sites.
Hashim says how far Canada is able to progress will depend heavily on the will of decision-makers, but despite the setbacks, he’s still hopeful the country will become a place truly accepting of all its people.
A Crown Corporation founded in 1996, the CRRF was created as part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement, an apology for the federal government’s maltreatment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War. Along with celebrating Canada’s diversity, the organization strives to uphold the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadian Multiculturalism Act and other laws and regulations that protect minority groups in the country.
