Monday, March 10, 2008

Italians Subjected to Racist Graffiti at York University, Toronto, Canada

The ANNOTICO Report

 

Those of you who like ostriches, hide your head in the sand, and think that there is NO Anti Italian effect from the torrent of Negative Stereotyping by the Media, may want to reconsider!!!!!!

 

Italians, Blacks, and Jews, Targeted

 

The Excalibur

York University, Toronto, Canada

Written by Renata Valz

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Latest racist graffiti affects more groups on campus

Two weeks after hate crimes targeting black students popped up at York Universitys Keele Campus, racist graffiti began appearing targeting Italian, Jewish, and Black people.....


Ferazione Canadese Italiana (FCI) at York University sent out a formal statement to all club members on campus, stating that the door of their office in Vanier College "was defaced with racist graffiti."

  
As a club, we are shocked and appalled that racist comments/graffiti even exist at an institution of higher education, such as York University. These acts are offensive and unacceptable. No individual or club, as a whole, should be subject to such acts," read the statement released by FCI (Ferazione Canadese Italiana) on Feb. 5.


 FCI (Ferazione Canadese Italiana) urged club members to celebrate diversity rather than condemn it.


This is a friendly message, reminding clubs not only to be respectful towards each other, but also watchful for oppressive or racist comments and acts," the statement continued.


As stated by Helen Keller, Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.


Frank Cappadocia, Student Community & Leadership Development (SC&LD) director, was responsible for forwarding the statement to campus clubs on Feb. 12.


 "At Matt Fisico [FCI president (Ferazione Canadese Italiana)] and the clubs request, this message was not sent out last week out of respect for the Multicultural Week activities underway," claimed Cappadocia in the email.


Matt Fisico, FCI (Ferazione Canadese Italiana) president, declined to comment further on the incident.


Twenty-four hours later, another set of graffiti was discovered on the first floor of the Student Centre in the mens washroom beside the food court.


It was hate graffiti of a kind of nature similar to what was on the YUBSA (York University Black Students Alliance) office a few weeks ago" said Rob Castle, Student Centre executive director.


 Following this incident, Castle sat down with YUBSA and SC&LD to talk about the issues and YUBSAs expectations.


The group was able to come up with measures, which included postering the Student Centre with official "hate graffiti alert" bulletins from Castle.  The flyers stated that a new incident had taken place and condemned the "acts of hate".


Castle said that an investigation would be taking place and provided numbers for those who wanted to come forward with helpful information. ....

 

 

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed (With Archives*) on:

Italia USA: www.ItaliaUSA.com * [Formerly Italy at St Louis]

Italia Mia: www.ItaliaMia.com *

 

Annotico Email: annotico@earthlink.net