Latin
American Coalition Against Racism
Latin
American Coalition Against Racism
Background
The Latin American Coalition Against Racism (LACAR) was formed in response to a poster that the Toronto Police Association (TPA) in Canada displayed during May and June, 1999. The overtly racist poster, which was displayed at a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway station, depicted a group of young people clearly identifiable as members of the Latin American community as delinquents and criminals.
LACAR believes that the criminalization of communities of colour and indigenous peoples, including the Latin American community, is part of the Ontario government’s law and order agenda. The Ontario government in Canada is led by Mike Harris and is ruled by a Conservative Party majority.
Objectives
1. EDUCATE, analyze and raise
awareness about racism.
2. FIGHT and confront racism with
concrete political actions.
3. COOPERATE and form alliances with
other communities, groups and initiatives fighting against racism and other
types of discrimination.
Values
LACAR is a space where the diversity of the Latin American community is promoted and respected. LACAR recognizes that the Latin American community is not homogeneous, but rather that it is diverse in terms of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, sexual orientation, and dis/ability. Although we identify as Latin Americans and we speak Spanish, Portuguese, and English, we are of Indigenous, African, Arabic, Asian, Jewish and European descent. LACAR celebrates this diversity and at the same time emphasizes the importance of confronting racist stereotypes within and outside our communities.
LACAR recognizes that racism, like other forms of discrimination, is systemic and institutional. LACAR believes that racism is intrinsically linked to social hierarchies that are maintained not only by discrimination based on race but also on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, and dis/ability. We understand that we cannot isolate these oppressions, since they support and sustain each other. Therefore, we believe that the struggle against racism should be integrated with the struggles against anti-Semitism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, and discrimination towards persons with dis/abilities.
LACAR also recognizes the historical discrimination and genocide against First Nations and Indigenous communities in all of the Americas.
For more on LACAR or to purchase their "Racism Is A Crime" poster please visit: http://www.tao.ca/~lacar or email lacar@tao.ca
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