Justin Trudeau Calls Out Islamophobia In Canada

Brut India

That defining moment in Canada’s Parliament when Justin Trudeau acknowledged his country’s racism problem. He was speaking after 4 members of a Muslim family were run over by a truck because of their faith.

Transcript

00:00Islamophobia is real.

00:07Racism is real.

00:10This killing was no accident.

00:13This was a terrorist attack.

00:30This was a terrorist attack.

00:45This was a terrorist attack.

01:03Their lives were taken in a brutal, cowardly and brazen act of violence.

01:10This killing was no accident.

01:14This was a terrorist attack motivated by hatred in the heart of one of our communities.

01:21Mr. Speaker, if anyone thinks racism and hatred don't exist in this country, I ask to them this.

01:29How do we explain such violence to that child in hospital?

01:34How can we look families in the eye and say Islamophobia isn't real?

01:40When you listen to the black Muslim woman who constantly looks over her shoulder at the bus stop

01:46fearing someone will pull off her hijab or hurt her, she'll tell you Islamophobia exists.

01:53If you listen to the parents who beg their children not to wear traditional clothes

01:58for fear of them being harassed or attacked simply for what they're wearing,

02:03I'll tell you racism exists.

02:09Muslim families have often felt uncertain or even fearful

02:15when they go out in the streets wearing traditional garb.

02:20The reality is most Canadians haven't necessarily been aware of that fear

02:30that far too many racialized and Muslim Canadians carry with them anytime they go outside.

02:40And today to my Muslim friends and to those grieving across the country,

02:44I'm reminded of the universal message contained in chapter 41 of the Quran.

02:52Good and evil are not equal.

02:55Repel evil with good and be patient.

03:01While your faith asks you to be patient in the face of evil and adversity,

03:06our first duty as political leaders is to ensure the security of our citizens

03:12and to ensure that Canadians can be free to live, work and pray as they wish.

03:22There are no words that can ease the grief of having three generations murdered in their neighborhood.

03:34There are no words that can undo the pain and yes the anger of this community.

03:42There are no words that can fix the future of that little boy

03:49who has had his future taken away.

03:51Islamophobia is real.

03:58Racism is real.

04:01You should not have to face that hate in your communities, in your country.

04:07We can and we will act.

04:11We can and we will choose a better way.

04:17When someone hurts any of us, when someone targets any parent or child or grandparent,

04:24we must all stand together and say no.

04:29No to hatred and to Islamophobia.

04:32No to terror and to racism.

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