Statement of Solidarity in light of racist campaign defacements in Hamilton

October 10, 2022

At the McMaster Office of Community Engagement, we value our relationships with all our community partners and our collective commitment to equity. We value, in particular, our ongoing relationship with the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, including our joint work to support the community-based, online hate-reporting platform. We value, as well, our work with the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre, whose support and advocacy yields important, ongoing benefits to this city.

Recently, white supremacist and racist stickers were used to vandalize a bus shelter poster featuring municipal council candidate Kojo Damptey. We condemn this anti-Black racist act, and condemn, as well, recent actions to remove the lawn signs of racialized candidates for both council and the school board. We are deeply concerned by the racist responses received by racialized candidates (many of whom are women) as they canvas voters.

These acts of hatred and intimidation reveal wider, systemic issues in Hamilton and beyond. They serve as a threat to our community, our leaders, and our electoral process. These actions must be named and opposed. We will continue to speak out in solidarity with our partners as we move forward to confront racism and hate at individual, systemic, and structural levels.

In solidarity,

Ameil J. Joseph, MSW, RSW, Ph.D. Academic Director, Community-Engaged Research and Relationships, Office of Community Engagement Holder: Faculty of Social Sciences, Professorship in Equity, Identity and Transformation Associate Professor, School of Social Work

Karen Balcom, PhD Academic Director, Teaching and Learning, Office of Community Engagement Associate Professor, History/Gender & Social Justice

Kim Dej, PhD Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning Associate Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Science