Anti-Asian Hate has no place in Markham

Anti-Asian Hate has no place in Markham

Statement from Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti

I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by the recent criminal acts by an individual against members of our Asian community and I strongly condemn all forms of racism towards any cultural group. Markham is proud to be Canada’s most diverse city, we wear it as a badge of honour and we celebrate our rich cultural mosaic.

Over the past year, I have witnessed many acts of kindness and solidarity in our community in an effort to support each other during these challenging times. This is the DNA of our community. People who have lived here for generations have welcomed people from all over the world and we see enriched experiences every day in our schools, community centres, public spaces and community celebrations.

Very early on in the pandemic, I along with members of our community of different cultural backgrounds personally visited a restaurant in Markham that experienced harassment solely because of its name. Markham is home to the largest outdoor Asian festival in Canada, Taste of Asia, and one of the largest Chinese diasporas in Canada. One person’s actions do not reflect our community. All of us stand in support of our Asian community when they face hate and discrimination.