Former white supremacist to address anti-racism forum in Surrey

Date: Wednesday, April 19

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Location: Taj Park Convention Centre, 8580 132 Street, Surrey B.C.

 

OVER 800 participants will gather in Surrey on Wednesday, April 19th for the annual Kids Play Foundation Anti-Racism forum. The focus of the forum will be on understanding the rise of the Alt-right movement and learning strategies to promote intercultural harmony.

“We have seen a significant rise in alt-right movement globally, and we are not immune to it here in Metro Vancouver” said Kal Dosanjh of Kids Play. “Today, we saw election signs vandalized with racist graffiti, racist posters have appeared in Abbotsford, and there was a disturbance at this year’s Anti-Racism rally in Vancouver in March. We feel taking a deeper look at this issue is important.”

Tony McAleer will be the keynote speakers, who will focus on factors that give rise to the alt-right movement and anti-immigrant rhetoric, and how to combat hate. McAleer was a former organizer for the White Aryan Resistance (WAR) and is now the Executive Director of Life After Hate.

Other speakers will include sociologist Indira Prahst, Sim Sidhu with CrimeStoppers, and Harinder Mahil, former chief commissioner of the now abolished BC Human Rights Commission. Youth will have an opportunity to discuss and share their experiences with each of the speakers.

Kids Play Foundation is founded by 2012 Canadian Olympian Arjan Bhullar and law enforcement officer Kal Dosanjh. Kids Play is a community organization that aims to keep B.C. kids away from the life of crime through its various sports and education programs.