Statement of the Communist Ghadar Party of India, September 21, 2002
The Communist Ghadar Party of India hails the mass action against racism organised by Indians, Pakistanis and other South Asians in Toronto on September 15th. Over 3000 men, women and children marched on the streets protesting the police violence, racist harassment and humiliation of South Asians in Canada. Scores of working people of Toronto joined the protest march, showing that the Canadian working class and people are united in their opposition to all forms of racism. This is the largest anti-racist demonstration in Toronto in recent years. It is a fitting reply to the racist and fascist offensive of imperialism and reaction in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001.
Ever since the attack on the twin towers in New York on September 11, state-organised racist violence and terror against South Asians and other immigrant communities has been on the rise in North America. While the families of South Asians who perished in the attack have barely learnt to cope with their tragic loss, their brethren all over the US and Canada have been the targets of intimidation, terror and 'hate crimes'. Such racist attacks, along with racial profiling by the FBI and other intelligence agencies in the US and Canada, has led to a situation where people of South Asian origin are in a state of seige. The latest instance of racially targeted violence in Canada was the savage physical assault of a South Asian man by a police officer in a shopping mall, in front of many shopkeepers who protested in vain. The victim suffered serious injuries including broken ribs.
The demonstration in Toronto, which lasted for four hours, was organised to protest this latest crime as well as the continuing racist violence against South Asians in Canada. It was addressed by a wide range of speakers including leaders of trade unions, various Canadian political organisations, Punjabi media outlets, activists of women's organisations, students and youth. The demonstration submitted a Memorandum to the Chief of Police, stressing that (i) those guilty of crimes must be punished, (ii) the police are not above the law and (iii) the police force cannot be allowed to police itself.
Following the demonstration, the ad-hoc organising committee formalised itself as the South Asian Action Committee against Racism. The Communist Ghadar Party of India welcomes this timely initiative to build a united front of South Asians in Canada against the growing fascist and racist violence, in defence of the rights and dignity of all the peoples.
Racism and racially targeted violence have been part of the preferred method of rule of the monopoly bourgeoisie in North America and all over the world. In Canada, people of Indian origin have been the target of state-organised violence and terror for a very long time. The intensification of state-organised violence against South Asians at this time is closely linked with the racist offensive led by US imperialism in the name of waging a war against terrorism and "Islamic fundamentalism". It is a clear signal that as the crisis of the capitalist-imperialist system deepens, the bourgeoisie becomes more and more ferocious and resorts to the most diabolical means to keep this system alive. It is a signal to all the peoples of oppressed nations that they must come together and take steps to strengthen their fighting unity against imperialism, racism and all reaction. It is a signal to the workers of all countries to forge their fighting unity with all the oppressed, including the national minorities, immigrants and all those being targeted by the imperialist "war against terrorism".
The South Asian immigrant community in Canada has a long history of fighting against racism and racist violence. The September 15th anti-racist demonstration in Toronto is a reminder to the Canadian and US imperialist bourgeoisie that the fighting spirit and wisdom of the Ghadari Babas is very much alive and active today. What has been gained is a new generation of anti-racist fighters, champions of the rights and dignity of all the peoples who make up the Canadian society of today.
The September 15th demonstration shows that fascism, racism and state-organised racist violence will not be tolerated by the peoples in the 21st century. It will not be tolerated by the people of South Asian origin. It will not be tolerated by the working class and democratic public opinion.
Down with imperialism, racism and state terrorism! Unite in action in defence of the rights of all!
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