#StopHate Race-based Discrimination Statement by CEO of Katimavik
22 March 2021
Over forty years ago, the founders of Katimavik made a promise – to unite youth from coast to coast to coast, who would valiantly repair bonds that had been broken. These brave young people would do so in a spirit of generosity, resilience, and respect while committing themselves to build stronger communities together.
Forty years later, Katimavik remains committed to this promise. All of us at Katimavik, pledge and renew our commitment, which is stronger than ever, to create a collaborative caring society, free from racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and hate.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent global upsurge of hate crimes, violence, and race-based brutality.
We recognize our unique role as bridge-builders, between young people of all beliefs, of all ethnicities, races, and religions, of all identities, languages and backgrounds.
We celebrate the beauty of diversity and have been doing so since 1977.
We empower young people to envision a world devoid of hate and to build a society that is, in fact, anti-racist.
As an Organization, we declare that silence is not an option. Racism may sometimes be invisible; xenophobia may not always be aggressive; and discrimination may not always be in the headlines, but hate, which is at the root of this toxic evil, is again all too present in today’s world.
Discrimination and violence are fuelled by the concept of supremacy, based on people’s identity, language, physical appearance, or ethnicity. The concept of supremacy provokes hate, despair, and devastation; it ruins lives and is morally reprehensible. Together, with one voice and through determined and demonstrated action, we shall and must put a full stop to it. United as a nation, as a society, as a community, we shall continue the work started by Katimavik’s founders. We reaffirm our commitment to build a united, caring, and tolerant society.
We can and we must do better together, to #stophate, stop racism, stop violence.
John-Frederick Cameron
Chief Executive Officer, Katimavik
Image contributions:
Photo by 青 晨 on Unsplash
Photo of Ashley Callingbull for Kind Magazine (photography by Chris Nicholls)
Photo by Juan Manuel Merino on Unsplash
Photo by Samuele Giglio on Unsplash