Stand Up for Love, Unite Against Hate Rally August 13

Shared on behalf of Community Action for Equity and Racial Justice (CAERJ)

The attack on 2SLGBTQIA+ people and communities – especially targeting trans folk – from Uganda to Hungary to Florida to New Brunswick has reached our community of Delta. The Christian fascist group action4canada has staged weekly banner drops on the pedestrian overpass by the 17A/Ladner Trunk Road intersection, some reactionary parents have complained and harassed educators around the inclusion of diverse gender identities, expressions, families and sexual orientations; PRIDE flags and banners on church and civic properties have been vandalized. The latter by unidentified individuals but no doubt inspired and encouraged by the public displays of exclusion and hate.

Local institutions including the municipal government have in recent years made positive yet largely token gestures of support for 2SLGBTQIA+ people but that is no longer sufficient – if it ever was. In the face of a resurgent far right, ignoring the threat and hoping it will go away is not an approach that will ensure our safety nor allow us to feel truly welcome in our community. The protections won under the Charter and BC Human Rights code are under threat of being undermined and rolled back by this concerted campaign that extends across borders and around the world.

We are inviting friends and allies from across the lower mainland to join us on August 13 to declare that Love is stronger than Hate, we will not be silenced or made invisible again! Expression of hate and incitement towards violence have no place in our community – or anywhere!

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(Patterson Park is adjacent to the Ladner bus loop so easy access by transit, and parking if needed, is available.)

This event is being held on the land of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen) peoples. We are tremendously grateful for the resistance and resilience of all Indigenous Peoples.

Community Action for Equity and Racial Justice (CAERJ)
- A Spoke of Resilience BC’s Anti-Racism Network