An Open Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper:

On Friday March 7, 2008, the Supreme Web Commander of the Ryerson Conservative Club targeted a Black woman, Ryerson Students Union Vice President of Education, with a vile racist message reading: "KKK- White Power" in its heading. The message contained racist and misogynistic content, outraged by the invitation of several Black Panthers to campus this year by the United Black Students at Ryerson. As Black students, our memory of the terror the Ku Klux Klan inflicted upon our community is still painful. It was only one generation ago that racists like the KKK assassinated visionary Black leaders from Martin Luther King to Malcolm X to rank and file members of the Black Panther Party. The trauma caused by cross burnings, arson and psychological warfare by the KKK are acute in our collective consciousness.

This vicious and open targeting of a Black woman directs our attention to the larger issue of white privilege and power; systemic and institutionalized racism that allow these actions to occur. This begs the question, is this how you want your party to be represented? You have a responsibility to denounce racism and speak out in favour of an equitable society.

We, the United Black Students at Ryerson, are calling for:

1) Your issuance of a public apology on behalf of the Conservative Party of Canada
2) The Conservative Party of Canada urge Ryerson University to reprimand this student

Contact:

Saron Ghebressellassie, Vice President
United Black Students at Ryerson
(416)838-8949
unitedblackstudents@gmail.com