London MPPs support calls for National Action Summit on Islamophobia

LONDON — London’s NDP MPPs are supporting calls from the London Muslim community, the National Council of Canadian Muslims and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath for all levels of government – federal, provincial, territorial, municipal – across the country to come together for a National Action Summit on Islamophobia.

Peggy Sattler (London West), Teresa Armstrong (London-Fanshawe), and Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre) reiterated the message from NDP Leader Andrea Horwath in her open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford calling for the summit, and for all political leaders to take action now to eradicate hate, systemic racism, and Islamophobia.

“A beloved family was taken from us because of Islamophobia and hate. We owe them justice. We must do everything we can to ensure this never happens again,” said Sattler. “The work of rooting out racism and Islamophobia is urgent. No member of our community should walk in fear because of their faith, culture or skin colour.”

The NDP has been calling for funding for a provincial Anti-Racism Strategy that combats hate and Islamophobia in communities and stops the spread of white supremacist groups and ideology. The London MPPs say Islamophobia knows no jurisdictional and territorial boundaries and everyone must step up now and coordinate a systemic government approach to combating this hate.

“As a community we are united in grief and anger. As a city, we are in mourning. We mourn for the child who was left without his family, and we mourn for each member of the family,” said Armstrong. “What comes out of this act of Islamophobic terrorism must be collective and concrete action. What happened in London has shaken our entire society. As political leaders and legislators we must resolve to put an end to the hatred and Islamophobia that led to this unspeakable act of hatred and terror in our city.”

“The denial of Islamophobia must no longer go unchallenged. All political leaders must publicly acknowledge the very real threat of Islamophobia to our friends, families, and communities. We must commit to legislative action to end it. We can and we must prevent this rising tide of hate in Ontario and in Canada,” said Kernaghan.