Local coalition responds to the defacing of National Holocaust Monument
Thursday, January 30, 2020, Ottawa — The partners involved in the United For All coalition come together to strongly condemn the defacing of the National Holocaust Monument just days after the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Coalition spokesperson Yasir Naqvi, Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Canadian Citizenship, speaks on behalf of the United for All about the incident currently under investigation by the Ottawa Police Service’s Hate Crime Unit.
“We are deeply disturbed by the vandalism that has defaced a very important national memorial that honours those lost to the Holocaust and speaks to the incredible strength and courage of the survivors who made it to Canada.
“Anti-Semitism has no place in our community and we are united with the Jewish community in strongly condemning this hateful act.
“In November, more than 30 organizations came together to launch United for All. This local initiative is our community’s response to overcome hate and violence in our city.
“Every single person deserves to feel safe and supported and there is no place for Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of hate.”
“United for All appreciates the rapid response from Ottawa Police— a member of the coalition — to investigate this issue by the newly established Hate Crime Unit.”
About United for All:
United for All is comprised of a growing list of local organizations that have come together to address the issues of hate, violence and extremism in Ottawa. The group has a table of champions representing the leadership of our city, as well as member organizations that represent the diversity of our community. In this first year, the coalition will build a city-wide approach to tackling hate and violence with a goal of securing public and private funding to bolster its work. United for All has a long-term goal to build social resilience, to support education, advocacy, research, and ultimately, to overcome hate and violence in Ottawa.
For more information on United for All visit unitedforall.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Clare Graham
Institute for Canadian Citizenship
cgraham@inclusion.ca
Meaghan Salmons
Institute for Canadian Citizenship
msalmons@inclusion.ca
Barry Keegan
United Way East Ontario
M 613-294-8128
bkeegan@unitedwayeo.ca
