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User:MaplesyrupSushi Jattlife121 (talk) 16:21, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

If you have some time, please can you help me with this page. Ideally want to make similar to this

Antisemitism in Canada I think this is needed more than ever with the anti sikh, anti south asian and anti indian sentiment in canada at the moment..

Anti-Sikh Hate in Canada

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Anti-Sikh Hate in Canada (also known as Sikhphobia) is the manifestation of hostility, prejudice or discrimination against Canadian Sikhs as a religious and ethnic group. This form of racism has affected Sikhs since Canada's Sikh community was established in 1897.[1]

Background

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Anti-Sikh sentiment in Canada has a historical and contemporary presence marked by several key events and ongoing issues. Early instances include the 1907 Bellingham Race Riot, where South East Asian and South Asian immigrants, mostly Sikhs, were violently targeted by white mobs in Washington (state), spilling over into Canadian anti-immigrant sentiment. The 1914 Komagata Maru incident incident further highlighted institutional racism when 376 Indian passengers, mostly Sikhs, were denied entry into Canada and forced to return to India, where many faced persecution. Post September 11 attacks, Sikhs in Canada experienced increased xenophobia and hate crimes, often being mistaken for Muslims due to their turbans and beards.

More recently, anti-Sikh sentiment has surfaced on social media, particularly targeting international students from India. These students have faced online harassment and discrimination, exacerbating their vulnerability and marginalization in Canadian society. These instances underscore the persistent challenges Sikhs face in Canada, from historical prejudices to modern-day discrimination.[2]

Early 20th Century

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1907: Disenfranchisement of Asian Immigrants

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In 1907, British Columbia enacted legislation that disenfranchised Asian immigrants, including Sikhs, reflecting the widespread anti-Asian sentiment of the period. These laws were part of a broader strategy to limit the political, economic, and social integration of Asian communities within Canadian society. This was called the Asiatic Exclusion League (AEL) the aimed to prevent immigration of people of Asian origin.

After the Bellingham race riot on September 5, 1907, many Sikh mill workers took refuge in Vancouver, British Colombia. [3]As South Asian and Sikh refugees arrived in Vancouver, AEL organizers pressed forward with a plan to march through the streets, waving signs and flags that called for “A White Canada.”[4] [5]

By stripping Asian immigrants of the right to vote, the government effectively barred them from participating in the democratic process and holding public office. This disenfranchisement had far-reaching consequences beyond the ballot box. It excluded Asian immigrants from serving on juries, thereby denying them a voice in the judicial system and perpetuating systemic biases. Additionally, the inability to vote restricted their access to certain professions and opportunities, further entrenching their economic marginalization.[6][7]

In some regions, these laws even prohibited Asian immigrants from owning property, which limited their ability to establish stable, long-term communities. The 1907 disenfranchisement laws were a significant aspect of the institutional racism faced by Asian immigrants in early 20th century in Canada reflecting the broader exclusionary policies of the era.

1908: Continuous Journey Regulation

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In 1908, the Canadian government implemented the Continuous Journey Regulation, a measure that required all immigrants to arrive in Canada directly from their country of origin without any stops or layovers. This regulation was specifically designed to curtail immigration from India, as there were no direct steamship routes between India and Canada at that time. The law effectively excluded Indian immigrants, who had to travel via intermediary ports such as Hong Kong or Japan. The regulation was part of a broader strategy to restrict Asian immigration and maintain the racial composition of Canada, reflecting widespread anti-Asian sentiment and racial discrimination prevalent during that era.[8][9]

The Continuous journey regulation had profound implications for Indian immigrants, particularly Sikhs, who had begun to establish communities in British Columbia. It served as a significant barrier to their immigration and settlement in Canada. The regulation also set the stage for incidents such as the Komagata Maru incident in 1914, where a ship carrying Indian immigrants was denied entry into Canada under this law, leading to a standoff in Vancouver's harbor. The regulation was not only a tool of exclusion but also a symbol of the broader policies of racial discrimination and exclusion that characterized Canadian Immigration policy in the early 20th century. [10]

1914: Komagata Maru Incident

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The Komagata Maru incident of 1914 is a poignant example of racial discrimination and xenophobia in early 20th-century Canada. The Japanese steamship SS Komagata Maru, which departed from Hong Kong and arrived in Vancouver on May 23, 1914, was carrying 376 passengers, predominantly Sikh immigrants from the Punjab region of British India.[11] Despite their lawful status as British subjects, the passengers were barred from disembarking due to Canada's restrictive immigration policies aimed at preventing non-European immigrants from entering the country.[12]

The Canadian government’s refusal to allow the ship’s passengers to land was a manifestation of the broader racial prejudices of the time. After two months of being held in harsh conditions aboard the ship, the Komagata Maru was forced to return to India. Upon arrival in Calcutta, the passengers were met with hostility from British colonial authorities, resulting in violent reprisals, imprisonment, and the deaths of several individuals.[13]

In 2016, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government formally apologized for the incident, acknowledging the grave injustices faced by the passengers and marking an official recognition of this dark chapter in Canadian history. The incident remains a stark reminder of the systemic racism faced by South Asian immigrants and has had a lasting impact on Indo-Canadian relations and the historical narrative of racial discrimination in Canada.[14][15][16]

Labour Market Restrictions

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Throughout the early 20th century, Sikhs, along with other Asian immigrants, faced significant obstacles in the labour market. They were often confined to low-paying, menial jobs and encountered hostility and discrimination from white labour unions. Exclusionary policies and societal prejudices restricted their employment opportunities, limiting them to sectors like agriculture, lumber mills, and railway construction, where they endured harsh working conditions and exploitation. This systemic discrimination not only hindered their economic prospects but also reinforced broader societal biases, perpetuating a cycle of marginalization and inequality for Asian communities in North America.[17][18]

Propaganda and Public Sentiment

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During the early 20th century, newspapers and political figures often depicted Sikhs and other Asian immigrants as threats to Canadian society, economy, and racial purity. This racist propaganda fuelled widespread public hostility towards Asian communities.[19]

Mid 20th Century

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During the mid-20th century, Sikhs in Canada faced pervasive racism and discrimination, reflecting the broader challenges of immigrant communities in a society that was often unwelcoming to visible minorities. Despite their contributions to the country, Sikhs were frequently marginalized, encountering significant barriers in employment, housing, and social acceptance.[20]

Employment discrimination was particularly rampant, with many Sikh men being denied jobs or promotions because of their turbans and beards, which were seen as incompatible with mainstream Canadian norms. In public spaces, Sikhs often faced hostility, and in many cases, landlords refused to rent to Sikh families or charged them higher rents, exacerbating their economic struggles. [21]

Late 20th Century

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1980 - 1990

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1985 Air India Flight 182 Aftermath

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After the aftermath of Air India Flight 182, hostility towards Sikhs in Canada increased significantly, driven by a surge in suspicion and prejudice against the community. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Sikhs across the country experienced heightened discrimination and racism. Many faced harassment in public spaces, while Sikh-owned businesses were boycotted, and gurdwaras (Sikh temples) became targets of vandalism and arson. The media’s portrayal of Sikhs often unfairly linked the community with violence and extremism, which further deepened public mistrust. Despite the Sikh community's widespread condemnation of the attack, they faced a challenging period marked by fear, prejudice, and social marginalization in Canada.[22]

1990 - 2000

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1990 Herman Bittner Calendar Controversy

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In Winnipeg and Calgary, authorities considered criminal charges against individuals who created and distributed an anti-Sikh calendar that portrayed a turbaned Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer alongside the derogatory question, "Is this Canadian, or does this make you Sikh?" The calendar, produced by Herman Bittner of Langdon, stirred significant controversy and concerns about inciting hatred. The calendar's distribution and the offensive portrayal prompted meetings between justice officials and Sikh representatives, who emphasized the need for legal action to address and curb such racist actions.[23][24][25]

1999 Sikh Caretaker Murder

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In 1999, five White supremacists in British Columbia were sentenced for the killing of 65-year-old Sikh caretaker Nirmal Singh Gill. Lee Nikkel, 18, and Robert Kluch, 26, received 15-year sentences plus 18 months already served, for initiating and carrying out the attack. Radoslaw Synderek, 24, Daniel Miloszewski, 22, and Nathan LeBlanc, 27, were each sentenced to 12 years. Judge William Stewart condemned the crime as repugnant and racially motivated, hoping the sentences would deter violent hate crimes. The Sikh community and friends of Gill viewed the sentencing as justice served.[26][27]

21st Century

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2000 - 2010

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2008 Transport Canada Racist Email

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Following a CBC News report on a racist song shared within Transport Canada’s no-fly list office in 2008, the World Sikh Organisation wrote to Transport Minister Marc Garneau expressing concern over the handling of the matter. The email containing offensive lyrics about Sikhs was investigated only last year, and the author, Mark Haynes, faced no disciplinary action.[28]

2010 - 2020

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2015 Edmonton, Calgary Gurdwara Vandalism

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The Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in South Edmonton was vandalized with racist graffiti, including the phrase "Leave Canada." The gurdwara's management is addressing the incident with grace, emphasizing education and community outreach as ways to combat ignorance. Community members are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity around gurdwaras to the authorities.[29]

2017 Jagmeet Singh Racially Abused

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During a public event in Brampton, Ontario, a heckler hurled racist comments at Canadian Sikh politician Jagmeet Singh, accusing him of supporting Sharia law and being a Muslim. Despite her outburst, the heckler later claimed she was not racist. The incident sparked widespread condemnation and highlighted ongoing issues of racism and ignorance.[30]

2017 Surrey, British Colombia Racist Graffiti

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Racist graffiti targeting Muslims was found on a Sikh realtor's bus shelter advertisement in Surrey, British Columbia. The vandalism, discovered on June 5, 2017, involved the realtor's face being defaced and anti-Muslim slurs scrawled across the ad. Surrey RCMP investigated the incident as a hate crime.[31]

2019 Montreal, Quebec Incident

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On October 2 2019, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh was confronted by a man in Montreal, Quebec who told him to “Cut your turban off.” Singh put one hand on the man’s shoulder and responded: “I think Canadians look like all sorts of people. That’s the beauty of Canada.”

2019 Quebec Bill 21

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Bill 21 (Act respecting the laicity of the State), Quebec's secularism law enacted in June 2019, prohibits certain public sector employees, including teachers, police officers, and judges, from wearing religious symbols while on duty. This legislation has had a significant impact on religious minorities, particularly Sikhs, by restricting the wearing of religious articles such as turbans and kirpans in the workplace. [32]

Many argued that the law discriminates against these groups, compelling individuals to choose between their religious practices and their professions. The law has prompted legal challenges and ongoing debate regarding religious freedom and secularism laws in Quebec.[33]

2020 - Present

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2021 Brampton, Ontario School Vandalism

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in December 2021, Brampton, Ontario, the Brampton Khalsa Montessori School was targeted with hateful graffiti against Sikhs, defacing the front of a ground-floor business beneath the school with offensive messages. [34]

2021 Scarborough, Ontario Assault

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In July 2021, a Sikh man named Harvinder Singh was attacked and beaten in Toronto's Scarborough, Ontario neighbourhood. The assailants, reportedly shouting derogatory remarks about Singh's religion and appearance, confronted him on the street. The incident, which occurred on the evening of July 3, 2021, drew significant media attention and sparked outrage within the Sikh community and beyond.

2022 Ron Banerjee Comments

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On June 29, 2022, in a video on the YouTube channel 'Beat of the North,' Ron Banerjee, director of the Canadian Hindu Advocacy, was recorded expressing hateful remarks, stating he supports the killings of Muslims and Sikhs in India because "they deserve to die," while discussing opinions about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. [35]

2023 Kelowna, British Colombia Assault

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On March 20 2023, a Sikh international student was swarmed and beaten by a group of people who ripped off his turban and dragged him across the sidewalk by his hair in Kelowna, British Colombia. [36]

2024 Scarborough, Ontario Assault

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On the evening of July 16, 2024, at approximately 9:55 PM, Rupinder Singh was attacked and had his dastaar (turban) stolen while returning home from the Scarborough Gurdwara Sahib. The assailant, who was wearing a bike helmet, snatched the turban and fled in a gold-white, older model 7-seater vehicle, possibly a Sienna, which was trailing behind; the incident was recorded by the perpetrators.[37][38]

Public Polls

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According to a recent poll from the agency Leger for Association of Canadian Studies, 60 per cent of the respondents felt there were “too many’ immigrants, an increase of 10 per cent since February. The number was at 35 per cent in March 2019, when 49 per cent felt the right number of immigrants were coming into the country. That latter figure has dropped to 28 per cent now.

From 2019 to 2022, the number of hate crimes targeting the South Asian community has grown by 143 per cent, according to Statistics Canada latest report.[39]

Organisations

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Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy

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It was announced during Sikh Heritage Month in 2024 by MP Kamal Khera of the Department of Canadian Heritage, that the Canadian Government will be putting forwards their first ever Anti-Racism Strategy and Canada’s first Action Plan on Hate.[40]

See Also

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References

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  1. ^ Singh, Simranjeet (11 June 2012). "Islamophobia, Sikhophobia and Media Profiling". Huffington Post.
  2. ^ Sinanan, Josiah (22 June 2024). "South Asian newcomers to Canada say online hate is taking a toll". CBC News. A handful of now-viral TikTok accounts with no names attached have caught attention. They use AI-generated images of Indian flags and people, alongside the caption Canada in 2050. One example, a video that has gained over 200,000 likes, has not been removed despite thousands of anti-immigration comments. The rhetoric has had a real-life effect on people like Kaur and Kadri.
  3. ^ "The 1907 Bellingham Riots: News Coverage 1907-2007". Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project. University of Washington. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  4. ^ Centre, BC Labour Heritage (23 May 2018). "The Asiatic Exclusion League Riot, 1907". BC Labour Heritage Centre.
  5. ^ Vancouver Courier (August 31, 2007). "Two-day conference examines city's 1907 race riot". canada.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04.
  6. ^ Cahn, David (2008). "The 1907 Bellingham Riots in Historical Context". Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project. University of Washington. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  7. ^ Lee, Erika (2007-11-01). "The "Yellow Peril" and Asian Exclusion in the Americas". Pacific Historical Review. 76 (4): 537–562. doi:10.1525/phr.2007.76.4.537. ISSN 0030-8684. JSTOR 10.1525/phr.2007.76.4.537. OCLC 6965417308.
  8. ^ "Continuous Journey Regulation, 1908". Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Mackenzie King's report additionally recommended restricting immigration from India. King noted that many East Indians in Canada were unemployed and impoverished, attributing their circumstances to an incompatibility with the Canadian climate and way of life. However, specific exclusion of Indian immigrants based on their citizenship was impracticable because of their status as British subjects
  9. ^ "Immigration and Exclusion". University of Washington. The majority of early Indian immigrants to the Pacific Northwest were Sikhs from the rural province of Punjab, and they were employed as laborers in railway construction, in lumber mills, and in forestry. In California they gravitated toward agricultural work.
  10. ^ "Continuous Journey". Ali Kazimi. In 1914, Gurdit Singh, a Sikh entrepreneur based in Singapore, chartered a Japanese ship, the Komagata Maru, to carry Indian immigrants to Canada
  11. ^ "Komagata Maru incident (1914)". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  12. ^ "Komagata Maru". www.bhagatsinghthind.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  13. ^ Chang, Kornel (2012). Pacific Connections. University of California Press. p. 147. ISBN 9780520271692.
  14. ^ "Gurpreet Singh: Komagata Maru apology campaigners gearing up to thank Trudeau at annual festival in Surrey". August 2019.
  15. ^ "PM to offer full apology for Komagata Maru incident". April 11, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "City of New Westminster Apology to the Community, Families and Descendants of the Komagata Maru" (PDF). City of New Westminster Archive Files. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  17. ^ Ward, W Peter (1978). White Canada Forever: Popular Attitudes and Public Policy Toward Orientals in British Columbia. The exclusion of Orientals from labor unions and their relegation to menial, low-paying jobs was a consequence of widespread prejudice and discriminatory policies. These measures were intended to maintain racial purity and protect white workers from competition
  18. ^ Singh, Harbhajan (1983). Canada's Sikhs: Autobiography of Harbhajan Singh. Sikhs, like other South Asians, were systematically excluded from many areas of employment and were often forced into the most menial and dangerous jobs. They faced hostility from white workers and labor unions, who saw them as a threat to their economic security
  19. ^ Hyde, David (7 March 2017). "Eerie parallels between 1907 Bellingham riots and anti-Sikh hate in 2017". KUOW.
  20. ^ "Council of Sikh Affairs" (PDF). University of Toronto. Over the last forty-one years, the Sikhs in Ontario have faced hardships in practicing their faith at their workplace. In 1975, a Sikh gentleman was refused employment because he was wearing a turban. The matter was referred to Ontario Human Rights Commission and the inquiry was headed by Professor Peter A. Cumming.
  21. ^ Coyle, Jim (27 Jan 2018). "Sikh immigrant's story is as Canadian as chaat, dal and paneer". Toronto Star. Sandhu recalls being told once, across a table, that with his turban and beard he looked like Iran's late Ayatollah Khomeini.
  22. ^ Sandhu, Gian Singh (5 June 2018). "In the Air India Bombing Aftermath, I Wished I Kept My Turban". Vice.
  23. ^ "Limits of Acceptance". CBC.
  24. ^ "Charges Considered Over Racist Calendar". Edmonton Journal.
  25. ^ "5 head-covering controversies in Canada". CBC. Herman Bittner, an Alberta man who made a calendar to protest the decision, said: Am I really a racist, or am I standing up and trying to save something that you know can be lost forever?
  26. ^ "B.C. skinheads sentenced in Sikh beating death". CBC. 16 November 1999.
  27. ^ "Racist Killer Wants to Apologise to Victims". Calgary Herald. 7 October 1999.
  28. ^ Burke, Ashley (11 December 2019). "Transport Canada investigates 'racist' song shared in no-fly list office - 10 years after the fact". CBC.
  29. ^ "WSO Condemns Racist Vandalism of Edmonton Gurdwara". World Sikh Organisation. 9 January 2015.
  30. ^ Mitrovica, Andrew (28 September 2017). "Canada's Jagmeet Singh: Battling racism with love". Al Jazeera.
  31. ^ Brach, Bal (7 June 2017). "Racist graffiti aimed at Muslims found on Sikh Realtor's bus shelter ad". CBC.
  32. ^ Murphy, Jessica (17 June 2019). "Quebec Bill 21: Is it OK for public servants to wear religious symbols?". BBC. For her, wearing a turban is just such an integral part of my ethos and my being that I can't [disassociate] from it
  33. ^ Maher, Stephen (12 August 2019). "A sadness you can't describe - The high price of Quebec's Bill 21". Macleans. Kaur, a Sikh, wears a turban. Bill 21 means that she will not be able to teach in Quebec. The news came as a personal blow.
  34. ^ Singh, Gurmukh (7 December 2021). "Racist Graffiti Left on Brampton School". Times of India.
  35. ^ "WATCH: Extremist Hindu leader in Canada openly advocates killing Muslims, Sikhs". GeoTV. 29 June 2022.
  36. ^ Steacy, Lisa (21 March 2021). "'Absolutely disgusting': B.C. councillor speaks out after Sikh international student swarmed, beaten". CTV Vancouver News.
  37. ^ "Toronto & Peterborough Hate Attacks Highlight Growing Anti-Sikh Sentiment: WSO". World Sikh Organisation. 1 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Media Release for Thursday, July 25, 2024". Peterborough Police. 25 July 2024.
  39. ^ Sahota, Rajpreet (15 July 2024). "Uncovering the surge of hate incidents targeting South Asians in Greater Sudbury". CBC.
  40. ^ "Statement by Minister Khera on Sikh Heritage Month". Government of Canada. 1 April 2024.
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