A call from 30 community members for Nipissing-Temiskaming MP Anthony Rota to show more leadership on anti racism efforts.

One of the residents, Holly Cunningham says the decision to send an open letter to the MP was made following the removal of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh from the House of Commons last week for calling another MP a racist.

She says she realizes Rota, who is the speaker of the House, must maintain impartiality.

“But he’s still an elected official of our constituency and there are pathways to implementing change and go beyond participating in debates and voting on motions,” she says.

We contacted MP Rota’s office and he says he’s been very clear on racism.

“It’s just as real where we live, across Canada and in the United States. Far too often, Indigenous people, black Canadians and other racialized communities experience systemic discrimination, unconscious bias and out and out racism. It’s absolutely unacceptable,” Rota says. “Every Canadian should stand up to racism, call it out, make a committment to learn more about these unjust legacies as a community and as a society we need to stand together and work towards a truly inclusive, just and equitable Canada.”

Here is Rota’s full message:

Cunningham says there’s been silence on Rota’s social media platforms on the Black Lives Matter movement while close to 3,000 people from the community marched in solidarity calling for action on dismantling racist systems.

Signed:

Holly Cunningham, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Catherine Murton Stoehr, Nipissing Timiskaming
Kim Kitchen, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Kimberly Lediett, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Jessica Love, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Sarah-Vi Leroux, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Lindsay Sullivan, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Jaymie Lathem, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Shea Lacombe, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Chris Jones, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Stephanie de Montmorency, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Robin Alex McDonald, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Liza Vandermeer, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Chantal Phillips, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Evan Newman, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Maurice Switzer, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Amy Louise Ells, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Lindsey Voisin, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Jared Hunt, Nipissing Timiskaming
Suzanne Brooks, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Shannon Claussen, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Henri Giroux, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Chantal Phillips, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Evan Newman, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Liz Lott, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Kaiden Peldjak, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Jamie Murton, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Brooke McCartney-Langson, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Wendy Peters, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Amanda Mathias-Mizzi, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Ian Mizzi, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Vincent Aquilina, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Johanna Kristolaitis, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Meghan Trussler, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Nathan Kozuskanich, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Scott Robertson, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Katrina Srigley, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Anna-Gibson Olajos, Nipissing-Timiskaming
Bob Olajos, Nipissing-Timiskaming

Filed under: anti racism, Holly Cunningham, MP Anthony Rota