October 2 marks the International Day of Non-Violence. Unfortunately, this year, it is a time for dismay rather than celebration, in the face of a crisis that is getting worse every day.
We are the Coalition Against Hate, a collective voice bringing together nearly 150 community, association, public and private organizations. We are witnessing the meteoric rise in hatred and violence against the most marginalized populations in our society. In recent years, we have multiplied strategies to protect our communities, but, without an urgent and concerted response from the Quebec government, it is clear that our efforts will not be enough to reverse the trend.
A growing crisis
The toll continues to rise. According to Statistics Canada, hate crimes increased by 32% in 2023, an alarming increase on top of a cumulative increase of 82% already recorded between 2019 and 2022. The figures are shocking, but they do not convey the full extent of the problem. Online, one in four young people are victims of harassment, and the proportion rises to 52% among non-binary young people and 34% among indigenous young people.
Femicides, racist and xenophobic violence and LGBTphobic attacks are on the rise. Disinformation proliferates in our media and in the political sphere, fueling fears and moral panics. Discriminatory remarks circulate in an uninhibited manner in the workplace. Awareness workshops that promote inclusion in schools are disrupted. Flags and spaces representing the most marginalized communities in our society are vandalized. Demonstrations openly aimed at attacking the rights of trans and non-binary people are increasing in public spaces. The situation is critical and we are experiencing its repercussions on a daily basis.
A call to action
The government of Quebec must have a clear vision and a transversal strategy to deal with this increase in violence. It has done this in the past by adopting a government action plan against radicalization. This plan must be renewed and adapt to the ideological and political transformations of radical movements leading to violence, emerging strategies of communication, dissemination, recruitment, as well as new technologies.
We unite our voices to demand that the government of Quebec implement a new interministerial government action plan in the face of radicalization which is taking new forms and which is fueled by disinformation. The government must listen to our communities, partner with organizations on the ground and adequately fund community action so that this fight against hatred bears fruit.
Quebec wants to promote and defend the values of inclusion and living together, as announced in its law proclaiming the International Day of Non-Violence. The government’s inaction in the face of increased hatred and violence threatens these pillars of our society: let’s put an end to it together to build an inclusive, egalitarian and safe future for all. Our lives depend on it.
* The following organizations have co-signed this letter: Association of Graduate Student Employees of McGill; Help for trans people in Quebec; Seniors and retirees from the gay community; Alliance Rainbow of Quebec; International Alliance of Stage, Theater, Image Technicians, Artists and Allied Occupations of the United States, its Territories and Canada; Baie-des-Chaleurs LGBT Association; Center-Sud Literacy Letters Workshop; Animation, training and support center in Abitibi-Témiscamingue; CALACS L’Ancrage; CALACS L’Étoile du Nord; Calacs-Abitibi; CAPACS Abitibi-Ouest; Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi Thérèse-de-Blainville; CDC Centre-Sud; Lull Center; Self-Reliance Women’s Center; Érige Women’s Center; Lesbian Solidarity Center; Laval Women’s Center; Longueuil Women’s Center; Haut-Saint-François Women’s Center, La Passerelle; Center Between Women; Center for the fight against gender oppression; Omega Center; Catherine-Leblond Women’s Center; Center-Women of Grand-Portage; Canada Research Chair TRADIS (trajectories, diversity, substances); Research Chair on Sexual Diversity and Gender Plurality; Key on the door; Co-Knowledge; Abitibi-Témiscamingue Sexual Diversity Assistance Coalition; LGBT+ Families Coalition; ÉduSex Coalition; Montreal Coalition of Neighborhood Tables; Collective for a Quebec without poverty;
Confederation of student associations of Laval University; Quebec LGBT Council; FTQ Metropolitan Montreal Regional Council; CRDP Raymond Dewar; Mille-Îles School Service Center; DC – Indisciplinary art; Divergent; Miscellaneous-Gens; Diversity 02; TOGETHER for respect for diversity; LGBTQ+ space; Quebec Women’s Federation; National Federation of Teachers of Quebec; Quebec Federation of Unions; Pride Hautes-Laurentides; Montreal Pride; GRIS Montreal; Community Capacity Building Initiative; The JAG; Youth Idem; Juritrans; The Anonymous; L’Arc-en-Ciel des Seigneuries, mental health support group; The Martial School; The R of the women’s centers of Quebec; The Key in the Door; The Troubleshooting; La Maison à Damas inc. ; La Mouvance, Women’s Center; The L’Érige Women’s Center; The Piamp; The Support Point (CAPACS) Rouyn-Noranda; The 3 sexes; LGBTQ2+ Vaudreuil-Soulanges; La Traverse Welcome Home; Mental Health Movement Quebec; Nduwayo; Little Patro; Crying In’ Shower ; RAPHAT; REEF 02;
Popular education group of Abitibi-Témiscamingue; Regroupment of women of the North Shore; Grouping of women’s groups in the National Capital; Grouping of organizations in collective defense of rights; Community Mental Health Network; Women’s Action Network in Health and Social Services; Support network for single and homeless people in Montreal; Quebec Sexual Health Network for the Deaf; Network of Chaudière-Appalaches women’s groups; Quebec Lesbian Network; Network of Regional Tables of Women’s Groups of Quebec; SOLIDARITÉ Itinérance Network of Quebec; Grouping of autonomous youth community organizations in Quebec; Quebec Network of Autonomous Community Action; Union of lecturers at the University of Quebec in Outaouais; Village Commercial Development Company; Sphere – overall sexual health;
Union of lecturers at Laval University; Union of lecturers at the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue; Union of teachers of the Cégep de Shawinigan; Union of teachers of CEGEP Montmorency; Union of Teachers of the Collège de Montréal; Union of professors of Cégep Édouard-Montpetit; Union of secular teachers of the Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière; Union of teaching staff at Cégep de Jonquière; Ahuntsic College Teaching Staff Union; General Union of Professors of the University of Montreal; Consultation table of women’s groups in Montérégie; Consultation table for organizations serving refugees and immigrants; Consultation table of the Centre-du-Québec women’s movement; Table of Montreal women’s groups; Regional table of voluntary popular education organizations in Montreal; Trans Mauricie Centre-du-Québec; TransEstrie.