June 17th, 2021

Statement from MPP Ian Arthur on Islamophobic attack in Kingston

KINGSTON — NDP MPP Ian Arthur (Kingston and the Islands) released the following statement in response to an Islamophobic verbal attack in Kingston:

“I condemn this hateful behaviour — an act of Islamophobia — in the strongest possible terms. Islamophobia and xenophobia are alive in our community and across the country and must be extinguished.

While I am ashamed this happened in our town, I know it is not new nor is this incident isolated. I am glad this is being called what it is: Islamophobic hate. No member of our community should be unsafe because of their faith, culture or what they wear, least of all a young person, just 13 years old.

Rooting out racism and Islamophobia is urgent, and as a community, as individuals, we must heed young Jena’s advice: ‘I would like to see people standing up against racism and stopping it any way they can.’

I agree with Jena. We must use every tool at our disposal to end hate in Kingston and everywhere in Ontario. The NDP has called for a provincial strategy to combat Islamophobia, and that urgent action cannot wait.”