The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is outraged by the violent attack and attempt of lighting a woman’s hijab on fire at the Ajax Public Library. Our hearts are with the victim, her family, and her community. This was not an isolated incident, it was a targeted act of hate.
We join the Muslim community in demanding that this attack be investigated as a hate crime. We echo the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) in calling on leaders at every level of government to speak up and take action. This assault, rooted in Islamophobia, is part of a disturbing and growing pattern of hate-fueled violence in Ontario and across the country.
How many more wake-up calls do we need?
These acts don’t just happen, they are the result of rising intolerance, emboldened rhetoric, and systemic failure to confront hate.
This violent act occurring in a public library, a space for learning, during the holy month of Ramadan, is a reminder of how unsafe many in our communities are.
The OFL’s Equity Committees are doubling down on our commitment to confront Islamophobia, racism, antisemitism, anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate, and all forms of discrimination. We will continue to amplify the voices of impacted communities and demand real change.
Ontario must be a province where everyone can live in dignity, without fear. That means calling out hate and building communities rooted in safety and solidarity.
There is no space for hate in Ontario.
Cope343
