Liberal hypocrisy on show in Toronto blackface scandal
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
161.64185
Summary
A teacher at a Toronto school dressed up in blackface for Halloween has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. A petition has been started calling for the TDSB to do more to combat racism in schools and schools across the city.
Transcript
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Hello, I'm Melanie Rizdin with the Western Standard.
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Toronto Liberal MP Arif Varani has called out a teacher in his riding for donning blackface for Halloween at Parkdale Collegiate.
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But when his party leader and our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wore blackface repeatedly, Varani stayed silent.
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The wearing of blackface by a teacher at Parkdale Collegiate is simply unacceptable, tweeted Varani.
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We need a prompt investigation by Toronto District School Board, and our community needs to see prompt accountability.
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Trudeau has come under fire several times for his blackface appearances in the past.
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Even as photos of Trudeau's blackface incidents surfaced and circulated,
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Liberal MP Varani spoke to the CBC while campaigning in September 2019 in support of Trudeau.
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I have confidence in my leader, Varani said, pointing to the Liberals' national anti-racism strategy as an example.
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That, to me, is a man that I want to continue to support.
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That is why I have confidence in him, because I know that he is a person that actually believes what he is talking about.
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Now, Varani is taking aim at Parkdale Collegiate Institute teacher Gorian Serlin
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for arriving at school on Friday in blackface as part of his Halloween costume.
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Parents were notified by the school's principal, Julie Ardell, Saturday evening about the incident.
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As you know, many staff and students were dressed up for Halloween,
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but late in the morning a number of students alerted the vice principal that a white staff member was in blackface,
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Caricatures of people's race or culture are not appropriate and are offensive and hurtful.
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Ardell has acknowledged the teacher could face serious consequences for the costume,
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and many members of the community told the Star they didn't feel the administration acted quick enough to remove Serlin.
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A photo of Serlin seen in blackface paint was shared on Twitter by the Toronto Star.
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A petition to the Toronto District School Board calling for it to do more on the racism issue
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was started by Kathy Gatlin, a parent of one of the students at Parkdale Collegiate.
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We are writing to you as concerned parents and neighbours about the serious incident of anti-black racism that took place in your school,
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As of Wednesday morning, there were 1,916 signatures on the petition,
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which includes details of the incident and states the current policy and protocols for hate and racial discrimination are not enough.
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According to a statement the TDSB provided to the Western Standard,
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Serlin has been put on home assignment until a full investigation into the incident is completed.