Racism remains deeply rooted in our country and communities, and it is the responsibility of trade unionists to confront and eliminate it and all forms of oppression that seek to divide workers.

People around the world recognise March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to honour and remember the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa.

On this day in 1960, Black South Africans marched to a local police station to protest apartheid “pass” laws which limited freedom of movement.

“While we were standing there and singing, we suddenly saw the police in a row pointing their guns at us. Whilst we were still singing, without any word, without any argument, we just heard the guns being fired,” said Lydia Mahabuke, Sharpeville survivor.

The massacre, which killed 69 people and left more than 180 injured, shocked the world.

“Today, we cannot let violence, including acts driven by racism, to become something we grow numb to. With conflicts unfolding around the world and racial violence continuing in Canada, every life taken by the destructive force of racism is a terrible and preventable loss.” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.