Alberta premier denouncing pair of racially-motivated attacks in Edmonton
Posted December 16, 2020 9:45 pm.
Last Updated December 16, 2020 9:46 pm.
EDMONTON (NEWS 1130) — Two people are facing charges following a pair of racially-motivated attacks in Edmonton over the past week, which Alberta premier Jason Kenney is calling “unacceptable” and “revolting.”
On Friday, police say a mother and daughter — both Black, Muslim, and wearing hijabs — were approached by a man in a mall parking lot.
He broke a window of the vehicle they were sitting in, grabbed them and threw them to the ground, all while shouting racist obscenities.
Then on Tuesday, a Muslim woman was attacked by another woman at an Edmonton train station.
Both cases have led to charges and at least one is being treated as a hate crime.
Kenney calls the violence un-Albertan.
Glad to see that @edmontonpolice have been able to quickly investigate and lay charges.
As the legal process takes place, we hope to see justice swiftly rendered for the victim of this crime.https://t.co/q8lIsCMMYj https://t.co/Cwu51QOJWV
— Jason Kenney ???????????????????????? (@jkenney) December 16, 2020
In a joint statement, Leela Sharon Aheer, the Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women, Kaycee Madu, the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Rajan Sawhney, the Minister of Community and Social Services and the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council say the hate-motivated violence is not tolerated the province.
“I want to make myself very clear: racism, religious intolerance, hatred and discrimination have no place in Alberta. Racists have no place in Alberta,” Aheer says.
“We must speak with raised voices and join together in condemning these acts of violence and hate,” adds Sawhney. “Racism, prejudice and intolerance have no place in Alberta. I stand with women of all cultures and faiths who have been marginalized because of how they choose to dress and practise their faith. Their safety, their dignity, their individuality and their voices matter. We all have a part to play and it’s our collective duty as a society to ensure our women, youth, children and seniors feel safe and feel they belong.”
