Foundation to Commemorate the Chinese Railroad Workers in Canada
Position Statement - June 14, 2020
The Foundation to Commemorate the Chinese Railroad Workers in Canada stands for anti-racism and anti-oppression. One of the Foundation’s objectives is to promote the awareness of the government’s legislation of unjust Immigration Acts against the Chinese pioneers and their families. The Foundation and our Monument to honour the Chinese railroad workers in Canada (in Northern Linear Park, 4 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) stands as a significant representation of the historical injustices and racism that Chinese people faced during the building of the railroad. The purpose of our Commemoration Wreath-Laying Ceremony on July 1st, 2020 @ 10:30 by Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87372979811) is to honour the Chinese lives that were lost during the railroad construction and to acknowledge the Chinese community’s contribution to the building of the railroad. In doing so, we bring attention to the racist legislation and suffering brought about from the Chinese Exclusion Act on July 1st, 1923, hence the symbolism of holding our Commemoration Wreath-Laying Ceremony on this date. Importantly, the same political system that enacted the racist legislation on July 1, 1923, also acknowledged the historical injustice with the Head Tax apology on June 22, 2006.
The Foundation holds no political agenda. We are non-exclusive. Even though the July 1st Commemoration Wreath-Laying Ceremony includes numerous politicians – we strive to be non-partisan.
Due to COVID-19, there is a backlash against China and an expression of anti-Asian sentiment. It is more important now than ever before to come together as a community to show our proud heritage and unified support to honour our Chinese Railroad Workers’ contribution to the building of the railroad. The July 1st, 2020 @ 10:30 by Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87372979811) Commemoration Wreath-Laying Ceremony pays tribute to the 17,000 men who came from the Province of Guangdong, China and the 4,000 Chinese labourers who lost their lives due to unsafe working conditions, landslides and premature blastings.
Email: fccrwc@gmail.com Website: https://www.mhso.ca/tiesthatbind/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FCCRWC/ (@FCCRWC) Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChineseRailroad (@ChineseRailroad)
