Markham MP hosts meeting to combat racism toward Chinese community

Bob Saroya invited York Region Police and community leaders to discuss the rise of anti-Chinese racism

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 8, 2020
Scarlett Liu

The rise in anti-Chinese racism that has spread across the country in the wake of COVID-19 has aroused the attention of MP Bob Saroya.

He hosted a town-hall meeting with the York Regional Police and community leaders to discuss the issue on Aug. 29.

“Anti-Chinese racism is disgusting,” Saroya said. “We want to make it very clear that there is zero room for racism in our community.”

Markham is one of the most diverse cities in Canada, many Chinese immigrants choose this city to be their home, they have come to Canada to build a better life for their family.

“This is exactly what I see every day in my community,” stated Saroya.

Connie Chen was in attendance, a Markham resident who experienced firsthand anti-Chinese racism when her car was vandalized by a man after she confronted him for yelling racial slurs at a Chinese man on Main Street in Unionville last month.

Chen stood up and confronted the man and called the police right away. She later called on all Chinese Canadians to unite and speak out against disclination through yorkregion.com.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever used chopsticks--one chopstick breaks easily, but ten of them are hard to break,” Chen said.

The Chinese community’s contributions to Markham and Canada are incredible, Saroya added, and they should not be decimated against.

In recognition of Chen’s brave behaviour, she was presented with an Outstanding Community Leadership Award.

“I am so glad that we have good people like Connie in our community who are willing to speak out,” Saroya reiterated, “I want the Chinese community to know that I stand with them, and I have their back 110 per cent.”

YRP superintendent Chris Bullen also attended to the meeting, he praised Chen’s quick response and it was because of her information that the police were able to locate and charge the suspect within 24 hours.

Statistics show that there have been 14 cases of discrimination against Chinese since the outbreak of COVID-19 in #5 District.

In addition, there are 1,600 officers in YRP, 120 of whom are Asians, 99 black officers and 220 female officers. “We still have a lot to do,” Bullen said.