A march protesting anti-Asian racism is taking place in Montreal on March 21, five days after a mass shooting in an Atlanta-area massage parlour killed eight people, primarily Asian women.
Closer to home, an Asian man was reportedly randomly attacked with pepper spray in the Plateau-Mont-Royal on March 11.*
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Marche contre le racisme anti-asiatique / March against anti-asian racism
"Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of Asian communities in Québec have been physically and verbally assaulted, stabbed, and even hit by cars," the Facebook event page for the march says.
"Asian communities in Quebec have had enough."
A spokesperson for the SPVM told MTL Blog that 22 crimes and eight hate incidents against people of Asian origin were reported in Montreal in 2020.
The march, taking place on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, aims to maintain mask-wearing and social distancing. It is set to begin around 1 p.m. at Cabot Square or offers the option to attend virtually.
A vigil is set to follow the protest, commemorating the victims of the Atlanta attack.
*This article has been updated.