UARR calls for solidarity

            The Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) is a 25-year-old non-profit community organization committed to promoting a dynamic and healthy multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-faith environment in the Greater Toronto area. Over the years, we have worked proactively with the community, public and private sectors to provide educational programs and research that critically address issues of racism in our society.

            The UARR offers our most sincere sympathies to all those affected by the horrific events of September 11, 2001. In addition, we would like to join other political and community leaders in calling for calm and tolerance.

            “At the UARR,” says Tam Goossen, the president of the board of directors, “many of our past and present board members and volunteers are followers of Islam who have worked side by side with Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and agnostics to build Toronto into a successful multicultural multi-cultural city. In such difficult and emotional times, we simply cannot to lose our sense of values and basic principles of what it means to live in a democracy! On behalf of our children, we call on all political and community leaders and citizens of Toronto to stand firm in resisting the urge to scapegoat and penalize an entire community for the crime committed by a few fanatic criminals.”

            The UARR also runs the Anti-Racism Response Network (ARRN) and encourages anyone who is a victim of, or witness to incidents to report them to us at 416-703-6607, ext. 26, fax 416-703-4415, e-mail: uarr@interlog.com.