Imagine Canada statement on anti-Asian racism

We join our peers in the nonprofit sector and people around the world in condemning the recent shootings in Atlanta and the rise of anti-Asian racism since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life from attacks in Atlanta, and the impact that acts of anti-Asian racism and violence continue to have on members of the Asian community, here in Canada and around the world.

The ongoing prejudice, racism and violence experienced by racialized individuals stem from a white supremacy culture. This important dialogue about anti-Asian racism is linked to work fighting anti-Black racism and advancing decolonization in Canada and around the world.

We stand in solidarity with our Asian colleagues and the wider Asian community. As an organization whose mission is to support charities and nonprofits to strengthen our communities, it is our responsibility to use our platform to not only take a stance but to actively work to make our sector, and by extension our communities, more just, equitable and inclusive. 

We want to acknowledge the many organizations in the nonprofit sector that have been working tirelessly to advance anti-racism, notably the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, which has long campaigned against racism, and the Toronto chapter of the Chinese Canadian National Council, which recently released an important report on anti-Asian racism during the pandemic in Canada.