Mennonite churches in Calgary, Alberta, are organizing activities to oppose white supremacist activity in the city, and promote diversity, to coincide with March 21st, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In the wake of a spate of hate crimes and violent demonstrations in previous years on March 21, Calgary church leaders are calling for peaceful responses to the rise in white supremacist activity in the city. Calgary’s Mennonite church community has issued a call to the community to peacefully oppose the doctrine of hate. The Joint Statement of the Calgary Mennonite Churches Concerning White Supremacist Activity in Calgary calls on Calgarians to “reject publicly and completely the doctrine of racial supremacy and hate” while affirming a belief in non-violence on both the part of white supremacists and anti-racist protestors. The Joint Statement is posted online at:

www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/12309/White_Supremaci...

In support of this statement, Calgary’s Mennonite churches are collaborating to focus their worship services on March 21 on the topic of racism and will be praying for peace. Worship resources have been prepared and posted online at the Mennonite Church Canada Resource Centre:

www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/ResourceView/5/12406

On Sunday March 21, worshipers will be given violet ribbons to wear to express their peaceful dissent to the ideology of white supremacy and hate. To date over 2,000 ribbons have been prepared, thanks to the volunteer efforts of immigrant youth from the Calgary Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. We are calling on all people to wear a violet ribbon as a statement of peaceful dissent to the ideology of hate.

A press release concerning this initiative was issued and local radio stations are to air a series of pre-recorded radio spots from Third Way Cafe that have a diversity, anti-racism theme.

More information on this initiative can also be found at:

www.foothillsmennonite.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=...