Statement on Buffalo murders

May 16, 2022 - To anyone in our community affected by this senseless tragedy, please know we are here to support you - By Vivek Goel President and Vice-Chancellor - This weekend many of us will have watched and read the news from Buffalo of another devastating mass murder motivated by racial hatred and an ideology of white supremacy. To anyone in our community that is affected by this senseless tragedy, please know we are here to support you, and we have resources you can draw on to help you cope. Events like these force us all to confront the horrible reality of gun violence in the United States, but most importantly the reality that racialized people, particularly Black people, face every day. Black people in the City of Good Neighbours are still heavily segregated and face systemic anti-Black racism that continues to leave them with no easy access to basic life necessities like groceries. We clearly see exactly how damaging the false narratives shared by some mainstream media and politicians of white replacement can be. It is easy to believe that these are problems are specific to the United States. However, here in Canada, hate-motivated crime is also on the rise.