Solidarity Against Anti-Asian Racism and All Hate in Toronto...

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."-- Gandhi

It's been a trying couple of weeks, with everything going around us, but knowing you have support and someone always there in your corner makes things uber better. Thank you chef Steph Lo Mama Lo's Bakery&Kitchen for your friendship and being my ally on so many levels 💛💛💛!

I wear my heart on my sleeve and never liked confrontation. Deep emotions are drawn up and words cannot begin to articulate what I feel. However, I realize if I remain silent and don't confront hard truths, what price do we ultimately pay by staying in the comfort zone? And it's not even comfortable...

In the cosmopolitan fabric of Toronto we call home, it should be a safe place for everyone. A sense of pride. A knowing of belonging. This is not the case. Until we continue to have these hard conversations, support communities by speaking up and hold discrimination perpetrators and governments responsible, we will always be steps behind in creating the wonderful city that Toronto has potential to be-- A world class, truly inclusive place to live that embraces people of all colours, heritages and sexual orientation 🌈.

It takes more than an annual one day city event or parade to celebrate! The main focus should be what we are doing to make livelihoods on a day to day basis better and safer that is actionable and sustainable.

#susanssavourit #comingtogether #inclusivity #endhatecrimes #enddiscrimination #support #abettertoronto

Let's eat. Let's chat 🥢!#Repost Steph Lo @mamalosbakeryandkitchen with @repostsaveapp

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Had a great time listening to the conversation on, Addressing Anti-Asian Racism hosted by @jillslastword.

The panel was stacked with incredible individuals of the community. Sharing experiences with racism in Canada while being born Chinese. I loved how Councilor Kristyn Wong-Tam owned it for the majority of Asians where we aren't present in supporting others in our community. We must acknowledge and own those facts and work on changing our ways. How can we expect others to show up for us if we don't for them?

Photo Credit: Google

I've read some comments in a group about teaching children to be proud of who we are and of our heritage. As much as I love all of that, I believe it is equally important to teach them about racism and that people are mistreated simply based on the colour of their skin. How we can be an active ally to our fellow BIPOC members.

Bullying. Harassment. Hate. Racism.... they are pretty interchangeable in my opinion when it comes to race.

If we don't start changing or even taking the tiniest step towards it, nothing will ever get done. We will never be heard. The future for our children and generations to come will remain the same - feeling of not belonging here simply based on the colour of our skin.

We are not the world's minority. We are instead, the world's majority.
We are not, "other". We are Asian.

We need to be our own active allies as much as we need others to be as well.

Continuing to believe that staying silent or living in denial will make all this disappear, isn't an option anymore.

Stand up for ourselves.

Break the silence and conditionings that have marked us as, "model minority".

Post. Repost. Share. Educate our loved ones and ourselves. Have those uncomfortable conversations. Respect ourselves. Show up for ourselves. Defend ourselves.

I am not saying to go out there and be disruptive or disrespectful or violent.
I am saying, speak up. Use your voice. Let it be heard. Know YOU matter. WE matter.
We are far from where we need to be but the road to positive changes starts with this very first step 💛.

Silent No More. We. Must. Stop. All. Hate. Sharing my baby sister's sentiments which mirrors mine. To my Asian Community, my brothers and sisters know I stand tall and proud with you #noplaceforhate
#Repost @estheticiantracy with @repostsaveapp
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It makes us more impactful together as allies when we come together to fight injustices of all kinds. On March 16th, there was horrific violence that killed many Asian women in Atlanta, Georgia targeted simply because of their race and gender. Please also include Asians in your anti-racism activism. Asian hate crimes and violence has risen since last year's start of the pandemic and many attacks have been on the innocent elderly. Grandmas and Grandpas being attacked and beaten for nothing. Everybody should be treated with dignity and respect. It'll take everyone's help to dismantle all kinds of discrimination, racism and hate and to stop these oppressive systems that pit us against eachother, and end up harming all of us. Speak up when you see and hear injustices. Even allowing the "harmless" stereotypes and jokes can one day fuel the hate for someone to hurt or kill, as we seen yesterday and many times over. Staying silent shows you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Please teach your children to love everyone. This art created by @juliakestnerdesigns beautifully represents what we need more of in this world.