Earlier this week The Globe and Mail offered an in-person and online webcast with the sobering title of Hate Crimes in Canada. Hate crimes are on the rise in this country with a sharp increase in 2020 and initial evidence that there was another uptick in 2021. Haters hate through physical violence, vandalism, and online trolling. Whether it's on the basis of skin colour, sexual orientation, or religion, it's ugly and pervasive in this country. The seminar involved a number of speakers who identified the challenges of keeping up with the multiplicity of hate platforms and groups, defining what constitutes hate, and of coordinating efforts to address it.
I couldn't watch throughout the afternoon but I was fortunate to tune in as United Church minister, the Rev. Anthony Bailey from Parkdale United Church in Ottawa, took the podium. Anthony lived through a horrendous racial hatred experience as a young man in Montreal. He and his brother were accosted by racists and his sibling was stabbed to death. During his time at Parkdale there have been a couple of incidents in which racist graffiti was spray-painted on the church building and Baileym who is Black, received personal threats.
One of the perpetrators, a minor, was caught, and Anthony entered into a restorative justice relationship with this person. He has also been involved in a program with this purpose in the city of Ottawa.He spoke of the Jewish concept of "tikkun olam", mending the world, and attempting to break the cycle of escalation and retributive violence.
He also spoke of offering an alternative narrative or story, describing the practical and symbolic initiative Parkdale undertook with the Jewish and Muslim communities in their neighbourhood, whose buildings were also vandalized. They collaborated on a well-advertised blood drive to remind everyone that while our vital blood may have different types it can't be identified by ethnicity or religion.
I appreciate that Rev. Bailey was included amongst the Globe speakers and what he offered was a powerful Christian and interfaith witness.
Monarchs are on the move, thanks be to God! Today's Groundling blog groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2022/03/monarc
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