Solidarity with Malayali community and immigrant youth: No Space for Racism in London

On January 18, a group of South Asian immigrant youth from the Malayali community were targeted in a vicious racist assault in Victoria Park, London, Ontario. Four sustained serious physical injuries and one has a critical eye injury.

This is the latest incident in a growing climate of violence on newcomers to Canada, especially those from South Asian communities. This open violence is directly connected to the growing number of militaristic displays by fascist groups in Ontario, including the incident on Wortley Road in November and the attempt by far-right “Canada First” to organize an anti-immigrant rally in October in Victoria Park.

Many of us have watched the rising tide of anti-immigrant violence south of the border with horror, but this is not just happening in the United States. The inspiration we have from the community responses to ICE raids, including the coalition of organized labour responding with a general strike in Minnesota on January 23rd, ought to motivate our solidarity with immigrant communities facing increasing discrimination and violence in Canada.

There is a direct correlation between far right and fascist groups being allowed to take public space with celebration, confidence, and protection by police, and the growing violence on immigrant youth and newcomers. This highlights the importance of our expressions of solidarity including confronting racism and fascism every time its proponents rise.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with the Malayali community, and all immigrant communities, in London. As workers, we are united and reject all attempts at scapegoating, knowing these are feeble attempts to divide us and distract us from the urgent need to take on bosses, billionaires, and bad state policies.