Vancouver School Board trustee calls for stronger anti-racism policy
Posted May 25, 2020 9:23 pm.
Last Updated May 25, 2020 9:24 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — As we see the number of hate crimes skyrocketing in Vancouver — a member of the school board wants to make sure that doesn’t spill into the classroom.
Trustee Allen Wong is putting forward a motion at Monday’s meeting to establish a zero-tolerance policy that would strengthen the existing anti-racism policy.
He says the VSB needs to be prepared, “To ensure everyone’s comfortable to address an attack any racial types of incidents, whether it’s in the physical realm of when we open up school next Monday, or virtual meetings we’re having with the students.”
He says the growing number of hate crimes in Vancouver is alarming and students are paying attention.
“Students and people are looking at the broader community, the news of issues and in racial attacks racial assaults that they’re seeing due to COVID-19. So we need to be on top of that,” Wong says.
He adds he wants the motion to be easier to report these incidents and have more open conversations about racism.
Last week the Vancouver Police Department said they’ve seen a “staggering” increase in the number of hate-related and anti-Asian crimes in Vancouver.
-With files from Hana Mae Nassar
