Hate Wins When We Choose To Be Silent

What is the best way to respond to hate speech in our country? Should we ignore it and hope it goes away? Or should Canadians be prepared to stand up, speak out and fight back?

Earlier this month, a judge of the Ontario Superior Court ruled that I was defamed by Kevin Johnston, who runs a hate-speech website. The lawsuit reflected my belief in the importance of fighting back. There is simply too much at stake to remain silent. The judge agreed, saying of hate speech: “Left unchallenged, it poisons the integrity of our democracy.”

I’m obviously not the only person who has been singled out and targeted by a racist. But I am one of the few in our country who has fought back in a public way.

There are many reasons why immigrants and minorities feel uneasy about standing up for themselves – and for what is right. Some lack the resources for a legal fight – or don’t want to make themselves a bigger target. A few believe they are unlikely to get a fair shake in the court system. Many immigrants are wary about being perceived as troublemakers in their new country. I see this a lot. Newcomers feel so grateful about being welcomed into Canada that they can be unwilling to “rock the boat.” 

There’s another explanation: When someone speaks words of hate, it can be easy to say, “Oh, that person is an anomaly. A loner. Someone on the fringes. It won’t amount to anything.”

But when hateful words go unchallenged, it serves as an invitation to others – an invitation to come out of the shadows. These people come to believe that their hatred is shared by some and acceptable to most. 

There are laws in place to protect all Canadians – those born here and those who’ve been welcomed here. We should not be shy about putting those laws to work for the greater good. Instead, we should proclaim loudly: Hate speech has no place in Canada. If you speak hateful words, if you engage in hateful actions, you will be held accountable.

Much of the media coverage about the court decision focused on the financial terms: a $2.5 million judgment. For me, it was never about the money. It was about demonstrating the importance of taking action and holding those who hate to account in a meaningful way. 

I have no idea how much of the judgment will ever be paid to me. But no matter how much it is, I will not feed my family with it. Instead, I will use the money to financially support others who seek to protect themselves – and our Canadian values – by filing suit against those who engage in hate speech.

Like many immigrants, I was grateful to be welcomed into Canada. I remain grateful to this day. I believe the best way to show my gratitude is to stand up and defend the Canadian principles of tolerance, acceptance, inclusivity and diversity. 

We can’t simply assume that Canada will always be a beacon of tolerance. History has shown us the dangers of allowing hateful speech to flourish.

Every Canadian has a part to play when it comes to protecting the values on which this country was built. If we don’t have the courage to stand up against outright prejudice and hate, what will be the cost of our silence? 

We must encourage and support those who take steps to stand up against hate in Canada. That support can take any number of forms: public support, moral support, financial support and more.

In the aftermath of the court ruling, our moment for celebration was short. That very same day, Johnston filmed and released another hateful video that targeted me and others. It was a reminder to me, to my family and to all who believe in an accepting and inclusive Canada: The fight goes on. 

We must continue to speak out against those who hate. We must continue to stand up and defend what’s great about Canada. And if we are to win, we must do it together.