The following statement was issued on June 2 by Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. The UCC posted its “Statement on Anti-Black Racism” on its website.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress stands with the Black community in denouncing anti-black racism.
Racism has no place in Canada, yet is experienced every day by many Canadians who are mistreated because of the color of their skin and their ethnic background. In this time of pain and grief, we stand in solidarity with those who peacefully protest for the cause of racial justice. We recommit ourselves to work to combat racism and hate. The right of equal treatment before the law and the right to justice are fundamental and inalienable for every human being.
We must recognize that as a nation, we do not always live up to our highest ideals – but we must strive for them, together. And we must speak out forcefully against racism, intolerance and hatred wherever we see it. For we recall the words of Dr. Martin Luther King: “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”