Conservative MLA Teresa Wat Calls for Immediate Action Against Hate During Anti-Racism Awareness Week
Richmond, BC – Teresa Wat, Conservative MLA for Richmond-Bridgeport and Shadow Minister for BC’s Anti-Racism Strategy, urged immediate action against racism at the BC Legislature today, emphasizing the urgent need to address discrimination across the province.
As part of Anti-Racism Awareness Week, MLA Wat reflected on years of advocacy, including her proposal to designate May 29th as Anti-Racism Education Day.
"This week is not just symbolic—it is the result of years of advocacy, including my call for an annual Anti-Racism Education Day on May 29th,” said MLA Wat. “As the former Minister responsible for Multiculturalism, that call was driven by the heartbreaking rise in racism and hate during the pandemic, particularly anti-Asian hate, which surged by over 700% in Vancouver alone amid the pandemic."
MLA Wat called on British Columbians to combat all forms of racism, emphasizing its detrimental impact on communities.
“We have seen increasing incidents of racism against Indigenous and South Asian communities. We must not ignore the surge of antisemitism—what many historians rightly call the oldest and most enduring form of hate in the world. This historic hatred has taken on new and dangerous forms, and it must be named, confronted, and condemned without hesitation.”
In 2021, MLA Wat launched a petition advocating for the proclamation of Anti-Racism Education Day, a campaign that received overwhelming support across British Columbia. More than 11,000 British Columbians signed the petition, alongside over 170 organizations calling for action.
“Fighting racism isn’t a partisan cause. It’s a human one. It’s about standing shoulder to shoulder with every British Columbian—no matter their faith, background, or language—and saying: you belong, and we will fight for you. I call on my colleagues and community members to commit—not just this week, but every day—to the fight against hate.”
The Conservative Party of BC remains committed to standing alongside British Columbians in the fight against racism. We will continue working to foster social harmony and strengthen multiculturalism, ensuring that every individual feels safe, respected, and valued in this province.
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