Statement of Support and Solidarity for Muslim Communities

To the Muslim members of our community, our hearts and thoughts are with you as we all mourn the attack of five people, four of whom have died, from an Islamophobic/ Anti-Muslim attack that occurred on June 6th in London, ON.

This violent attack against this Muslim family was rooted in Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim ideas, systems and structures. Islamophobia/Anti-Muslim hate is one form of racism and xenophobia that is expressed through white supremacy and the racist structures, institutions and society that we are all part of, including McMaster. In 2017, the Challenging Islamophobia on Campus Initiative was published and highlighted the many ways in which Islamophobia was present on campus and acknowledged the marginalization of both Muslims and those perceived to be Muslims on campus. Islamophobia continues to be part of Canadian society, and it continues to be present on campus. That must end.

The ongoing marginalization and surveillance of Muslim people has normalized a culture of Islamophobia that empowers people to feel justified in their discriminatory words and hateful actions. We must condemn and oppose any and all Islamophobic ideas and systemic Anti-Muslim racism as these reproduce the violence we continue to see from attacks on Muslim women in Alberta, the Quebec City Mosque massacre and the recent attack in London, ON.

This incident urges us to combat all forms of systemic oppression that facilitates lateral and vertical acts of violence through commitment and action. Our hearts and thoughts are with Muslim folks at McMaster and beyond, in particular the families of the victims.

In solidarity,

The Race, Racialization and Racism (R3) Working Group

Rodrigo Narro Pérez, R3 Co-Convener

Ameil J. Joseph Ph.D, Associate Professor, School of Social Work

Bonny Ibhawoh, Professor, History / Global Peace & Social Justice

Daniel Coleman, Professor, English and Cultural Studies

Faith Ogunkoya, Team Lead, Student Services

Alpha Abebe, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Humanities

Kalai Saravanamuttu, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science

Sofía Palma Florido, MSU Diversity Service Director

Jordan Carrier, Indigenous Student Success Advisor, Indigenous Student Services

Vanessa Watts, Assistant Professor, Indigenous Studies & Sociology

Amber Dean, Associate Professor, English and Cultural Studies

Juliet Daniel, Professor, Faculty of Science

Arlene Fajutrao Dosen, Director of Student Success

Clare Warner, Senior Advisor, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism

Abeer Siddiqui, Librarian, McMaster University Library

Celeste Licorish, Access Program Manager, Office of Community Engagement

Sashaina Singh, Knowledge Broker, Office of Community Engagement