Richmond North Centre MLA Teresa Wat is calling for May 29 to be declared Anti-Racism Education Day - a day to promote inclusion and tolerance and identify all forms of racism. 

Wat has written to Attorney General David Eby asking for the NDP government’s support of this proclamation request. 

“I hope the NDP government puts aside the politics right now, it’s time for us to work together to fight against racism. We can’t wait anymore,” said Wat.

“We are overwhelmed with anger and frustration when we bring up this issue. But what we need to do right now is to turn those negative emotions into positive energies to make our community a better place to live,” said Wat. 

Reports of anti-Asian hate crimes to the Vancouver Police Department are up 717 per cent over the past year. 

Wat said it’s deeply disturbing to see the number of hate crimes has surged amid the pandemic, but she thinks those acts of racism are driven by fear and misinformation. That is why she is now calling for the declaration of Anti-Racism Education Day. 

“May is also Asian Heritage Month in Canada. I hope schools, workplaces and communities can participate in discussions about racism on May 29 annually,” said Wat.

現在針對亞裔的種族歧視及仇恨罪案日益猖獗，敬請各大僑團僑社發起簽名運動，聯署支持BC自由黨和列治文北中選區省議員屈潔冰提出的動議，要求卑詩省議會把每年5月29日定為《反種族主義教育日》，並在當天和之後的日子舉辦一系列活動，在學校，社區，企業和公營機構宣揚反種族歧視價值觀。

請各大僑團廣為收集成員和大眾簽名，由屈潔冰呈交省議會，推動設立《反種族主義教育日》，並顯示華裔社區站在同一陣線，反對種族主義和暴力。

衷心感謝各位幫忙，為華裔和其他少數族裔社區在本省的未來出力。