PAN statement on Racism 

 

We oppose anti-Black racism, and strongly condemn all acts of anti-Black discrimination and violence. We acknowledge that racism towards Black people and other people of colour has not ended, but continues to exist and create harm every day. We stand in solidarity with Black communities everywhere.

Racism – individual, interpersonal, institutional and structural – and its harmful impact is a sad and unacceptable reality for Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour, both in Canada and across the world. We recognize that racism impacts other racialized people and communities. We are aware of how Canada’s history of settler-colonialism harms and continues to harm Indigenous people.

We must speak and act against racism and injustice of all kinds. For those of us who hold white privilege, this includes an ongoing commitment to educating ourselves and working to unlearn harmful beliefs and practices in working towards anti-racism:

“Anti-racism is the active process of identifying  and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures,  policies and practices and attitudes, so that power is redistributed and  shared equitably.”

NAC, International Perspectives: Women and Global Solidarity (as cited in ‘Anti-Racism Defined’, Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre, accessed June 3, 2020).

PAN commits to work towards anti-racism as an organization. We invite feedback and input from our members and allied organizations in this conversation.

 

The PAN Board of Directors and the staff