Stop Racism: A Community Dialogue for March 21

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION--Stop Racism: A Community Dialogue for March 21

The organization Partners Against Racism has planned events for Thursday, March 21, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The events will take place at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.

The theme for the day is Stop Racism: A Community Dialogue.

The day begins with the 7th Annual Harmony Brunch from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Noel Knockwood, well-known Mi'kmaq elder and spiritual leader and 2002 Aboriginal Achievement Award recipient, will deliver a keynote address.

Entertainment will include African thumb-piano band Kojo; dulcimer player Saeed Foroughi; musical duo Haze y Sky; and drumming by Henry Bishop of the Black Cultural Centre. Human Rights Awards will be presented by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission to individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in the field of human rights.

Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. sessions will be held for community members focusing on building concrete plans of action to address racism.

The public is invited to attend the day's events. Admission is free, however donations to the food bank will be accepted.

For more information or to request sign language interpretation please contact the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission at 902- 424-3137 or e-mail [email protected] .

The United Nations declared March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination after peaceful demonstrators were killed in South Africa in 1960. The day was set aside to demonstrate a global commitment and support for the elimination of racism and to raise awareness of the harmful effects of racism. Canada was one of the first countries to support this initiative.

Partners Against Racism is a coalition of organizations dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights. Members include the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission; Canadian Human Rights Commission; Atlantic Jewish Council; Scotiabank; Halifax Regional Police; YMCA Newcomers' Services; Native Council of Nova Scotia; Nova Scotia Barristers' Society; Department of Canadian Heritage; Black Educators Association; Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association; Nova Scotia Community College; Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia; Human Resources Development Canada; and the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Halifax.