Thank you for all of your support.  The signatures on this petition are growing and now it's over 800 signatures!  Last week, a complaint was submitted to Peterborough's Integrity Commissioner and in part read,

"The Harm Done by Mayor Jeff Leal’s Use of the N-Word:

Mayor Jeff Leal’s use of the N-word was not just a poor choice of language — it was a harmful act of anti-Black racism with far-reaching consequences in our community. The damage includes:

1. Perpetuating Disrespect Towards Black People 

• ● Reinforces the notion that Black people are undeserving of respect or dignity.
• ● Normalizes the use of a word that is now widely condemned and recognized as indecent and violent. 
•  Sends a message — especially from someone in power — that it is acceptable to show contempt, disdain, and hatred toward Black people. Demonstrates that the values of equality, diversity, and inclusion are not upheld by the city’s leadership.

2. Undermining Safe Spaces for Black Children and Adults. Children in Peterborough are increasingly being targeted with racial slurs and insults, creating unsafe environments in schools and public spaces.

● Adults are also affected — the very next day after the incident became public, Jane Braithwaite, a Black 4th-generation Canadian, was verbally assaulted in public with the N-word.

● Yesterday, Thursday, June 19th, we received an email from a parent that her child was subjected to a racial slur by another student at school. This incident has deeply affected her child, making her feel unsafe and unsupported. Understandably, such experiences can have a lasting impact on her emotional and psychological well-being.  This is not an isolated racial incident that is occurring in the school, but there has been an increase in the number of racial slurs in the Peterborough schools.  These acts illustrate the immediate real-world impact of the mayor’s words and how they embolden others.

3. Weakening Race Relations in the Community Harms interpersonal relationships between Black residents and the broader community, generating mistrust and alienation.

● Sparked racist backlash online, including claims that: ➔ The Black community is "overreacting." ➔ The N-word "should be used freely." Promotes the false idea that if a mayor can say it, so can others, further eroding social norms and safety for Black residents.

4. Threatening the Safety of African Diasporans in Peterborough His use of the N-word was an act of verbal violence against Black people. It has endangered the physical and emotional safety of Black individuals in the community. Leadership sets the tone. When leaders behave this way, it signals that Black safety and dignity are not of any concern.

5. Fueling Hate in a City Already Struggling with Racism Peterborough has the highest hate crime rate per capita in Canada in recent years:

● 2020: 19.0 per 100,000 residents (highest in Canada). ● 2021: Slight dip to 18.7 per 100,000.

● 2023: Rose again to 33.5 per 100,000, second only to Kitchener-Waterloo. These numbers from Statistics Canada show a clear pattern of rising hate, underscoring the urgent need to:

● Address racism at all levels of leadership.

● Implement serious education and accountability measures.

● Support the Black community in Peterborough. "These numbers highlight the ongoing and urgent need to address hate and systemic racism within the Peterborough community."   

Thanks again for your support

The Coalition for a Better Peterborough