March 21st

On March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa, a peaceful protest against Apartheid came to a tragic end when police opened fire on the demonstrators, killing 70 people and wounding an additional 180. In 1966 to commemorate this tragic event and promote harmonious race relations, the United Nations declared March 21^st as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Canada was one of the first countries to support the UN initiative and in 1989, the Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage, launched its annual March 21 campaign.

Each year, MARL, through its participation in the Coalition for Human Equality, had been actively involved in March 21^st activities in Winnipeg aimed at raising public awareness of the issue of racism. This year, the Coalition prepared and distributed an Events Calendar highlighting anti-racism activities through March and on into the spring. The calendar was distributed at community events, through the mail and on the web page which the Coalition maintains on MARL's website. Once again, the Coalition ran its bus banners for the month of March with the message Racism hurts you and me … Join hands for racial harmony.

As member of a tri-level March 21 Committee involving three levels of government and community organizations, the Coalition was involved in organizing two events.

Inclusive Workplaces: Management and Union Strategies for a Racism Free Workplace was a "lunch and learn" event attended by more than 130 employees of the City of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada and several unions who heard presentations by two speakers. Judith Hayes of the Manitoba Lotteries Commission presented developments at Manitoba Lotteries towards a more inclusive workplace. Her presentation emphasized that inclusion is a priority throughout the organization, not merely a responsibility of human resources. The organization is taking principles of diversity and inclusion beyond hiring practices, into strategies for retention of employees and into customer relations. Jerry Woods, a proud member of the Couchiching First Nation and Vice Chair of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, has a background in the labour movement. He spoke about his personal experiences in life broadly and in the workplace and strategies for addressing racism. The audience appreciated the personal insights he brought to the subject.

The second event undertaken by the March 21 Committee in partnership with the West End Cultural Centre and CBC Radio One was a concert called Many Voices, One Song. The line up included Burnt, the Ukrainian Mandolin Orchestra, Dinka Traditional Dancers from Sudan, Pip Skid ( a socially conscious hip hop artist active with inner city youth) and Gerry Barrett. The concert was taped for broadcast with excerpts aired on March 18 and March 21 and the concert scheduled to air on Global Village in the summer. The event brings together many people from Winnipeg's diverse communities to commemorate March 21^st and to share their cultures.

MARL is pleased to be able to support the work of the Coalition through the efforts of the Executive Director and by offering the use of its facilities.