PFC News Statement by PFC’s President & CEO on an Islamophobic incident in Montreal Jean-Marc Mangin PFC News 2 mins read Oct 7, 2022 News & Insights PFC News Statement by PFC’s President & CEO on an Islamophobic incident in Montreal On October 3 and 4, PFC hosted our national conference in Montreal. Our forum explored the role of philanthropy in addressing the complex challenges facing our world, including racism. On October 4th, at the Place des Arts just steps from the venue, four people in town for the conference (participants and their family members) experienced a horrific incident with threats of physical violence simply because they are Muslim. On behalf of PFC, and as its President and CEO, I am speaking out against this incident and all other forms of Islamophobia. We deeply value our relationships across the Muslim community in Canada and seek to deepen them. Racism is a terrible reality many people throughout Canada live with every day. It is perpetuated by those who condone such views and actions, but also by silence and inaction. Public policy that refuses to recognize systemic racism or targets citizens for their beliefs or what they wear contributes to the erosion of the ties that bind us as a society. It is troubling that this incident happened on the day after the Quebec election and during Yom Kippur. Islamophobia and Antisemitism are cancers that threaten our civic fabric and our democracy. I am convinced that these ugly incidents do not represent our shared core values – regardless of political affiliation. Yet, they are happening again, again and again. PFC shares in the collective responsibility to create an inclusive community based on trust, and respect of fundamental human rights. We know that systemic racism and discrimination are pervasive realities, and that their power undermines our efforts. As a philanthropic community we all must double down on our efforts to promote racial justice and equity for all and pay increased attention to Islamophobia. At our conference this week we shared many approaches, such as Inspirit Foundation’s work to challenge and change norms and narratives that have historically dictated racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural representation, like their Narrative Change Lab. We also heard from survivors and witnesses of violence experienced by Black and Indigenous citizens. The truth is that Canada is not yet the just society we want and remains, too frequently, dangerous for many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, including Muslims. We have a responsibility to use our platforms, financial resources, and privilege to address this. Share This Article Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
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