The Rise in Anti-Asian Racism in Montreal

Local 514 host and video journalist Savanna Craig is joined by Julie Tran & Sarah-Lê Coté from Le Groupe d’Entraide contre le Racisme envers les Asiatiques au Québec (GECREAQ) in a livestream discussion on Facebook live to discuss the rise of anti-Asian racism in Montreal.

Since the start of the pandemic, Asian hate crimes have increased in Montreal by 5 times. There has been recent violent attacks increasing, such as the 8 Asian women who were killed at two different massage parlours in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. 

GECREAQ is a platform to provide a space to report hate crimes against the Asian community and for the community to feel supported. Sarah said as a result of systemic racism in Quebec, this group can provide a sense of support and safety, that some might not feel when reporting hate crimes to the police. She also said in a province where the Premier, François Legault, says systemic racism does not exist in Quebec, it can be difficult to feel supported when racism and hate crimes are occurring.

Sarah discussed how there are different things that have led to the rise in anti-Asian sentiment, including former United States President Donald Trump calling coronavirus the "Chinese virus" and the "King Flu". Sarah also said the media has contributed to anti-Asian racism and hate, including some news organizations using photos of Asian people when discussing coronavirus, in a story that has nothing to do with the Asian community. This provides the narrative to readers and viewers that Asian people are to blame for coronavirus.