There was a wonderful rally of several thousands in Toronto on Sun., Oct. 15, 2017 at which many leaders of the community called for unity against white supremacists and racism.
Below is the speech I gave.
Down with white supremacy!
The Nazis killed my mother, Fajga Berliner, in Auschwitz because she was Jewish and therefore subhuman. That’s Nazi white supremacy in action. My mother was among its tens of millions of victims.
We join today against this poisonous doctrine. White supremacy was expressed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in a violent racist rally two months ago. Imagine! That rally got encouragement from the U.S. presidency. Shame!
The racists in Charlottesville brandished the symbols of Nazism: swastikas and hatred of Jews. What does this mean?
Nazism meant mass murder, not only of Jews but people of color, socialists, gays, Roma, Slavic peoples, the disabled or mentally afflicted – all who did not fit into their deranged concept of a master race.
Nazism killed 40 million victims, of many nationalities. It was an assault on all humanity and everything we cherish. Looking back on these racist crimes, we say today, never again. Never again for all humanity.
White supremacy in Canada today strikes first at Muslims, because of their scarves, their prayers, their skin colour, or their country of origin. It strikes at all who are Black or brown. White supremacy strikes at refugees from war, poverty, and climate change. It strikes at Indigenous peoples, age-old guardians of this land.
White supremacy is built into Canada’s foundations. It is expressed today by a government that fails to supply First Nations with clean water.
Our response is solidarity. Solidarity! We say love the whole world. Seek justice and freedom for every woman, man, and child, whatever their colour or sexual orientation. And with a growing number of Jews across the world, we insist: human rights for Palestinians. Palestine will be free!
Full rights for refugees! Full rights for migrant workers! Down with white supremacy!