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#StopHateForProfit Town Hall

In partnership with Dalhousie Student Union

Stop Hate for Profit – Halifax townhall hosted by MP Peter Julian - in partnership with Dalhousie University Student Union, is an non-partisan townhall for students and residents of Halifax to engage in an open dialogue about the rise of racism, hate and discrimination in recent years.

Anti-Semitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny and associated ideology and other forms of hate are on the rise in Canada. Nationally, hate crimes have increased 80%. Nova Scotia has the highest increase (+70%) of hate crimes rates per 100,000 population. Most people are not aware that online platforms, such as Facebook & Instagram, use algorithms to control the type of content that users see because more engagement means higher advertising profit. Throughout the pandemic, this has led to many people being directed towards COVID-19 misinformation (such as anti-vax content) and extremist, racist and hateful online content.

Come join this in person townhall in Halifax with panel speakers - MP Peter Julian, Dr. Kesa Munroe-Anderson, Associate Professor at Acadia University, Aparna Mohan, President of Dalhousie University Student Union and Ammar Shakoor, President of St. Mary’s University’s Muslim Society, to discuss how hateful social media content and harmful algorithms hurt individuals and our society. A special video message by Imran Ahmed, CEO of Center for Countering Digital Hate, will be presented at the event.

SPEAKERS

Peter Julian (he/him)
Member of Parliament, New Westminster–Burnaby

Peter Julian was born and raised in the New Westminster-Burnaby area where his family has lived for four generations. After graduating from New Westminster Secondary School, Peter worked as a manual labourer and factory worker. He has a degree in Political Science from the University of Québec in Montréal. Since being elected in 2004 as an MP, Peter and his team have assisted over 20,000 people in the riding. He is currently House Leader of the NDP.

MP Julian launched his Anti-Hate campaign last year and have received much support from major organizations such as Canadian Labour Congress, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), UNICEF Canada, Center for Countering Digital Hate, and academics such as Dr. Barbara Perry, Professor & Director, Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism. MP Julian’s Anti-Hate Campaign consist of Motion M-14, Hate Crimes and Incidents Measures and Bill C-229, Banning Symbols of Hate Act and Bill C-292, Algorithm Transparency Act.

In March, MP Julian will begin his national Stop Hate for Profit campaign tour in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Aparna Mohan (she/her)
President, Dalhousie Student Union

Aparna Mohan is the President of the Dalhousie Student Union and in her final year of Industrial Engineering at Dalhousie University. As DSU President, Aparna represents over 20,000 students at Dalhousie to government, media, and the University. She also oversees the day-to-day operations of the Union and leads the strategic direction of its advocacy, policy, and student services. Throughout her university career, Aparna has strived to break down barriers in access to postsecondary education for all while also contending with her own as an international student and racialized woman of South Asian descent.

Dr. Munroe-Anderson (she/her)

Dr. Késa Munroe-Anderson is a zealous educator and community-oriented change agent who practices an anti-racist and Africentric approach to leadership. Currently serving as Associate Professor in the School of Education at Acadia University, she is also co-lead of a new Master of Education in Inclusive Education program with a focus on Equity and Social Justice. Dr. Munroe-Anderson is passionate about work that actively aims to eradicate all forms of racism. Therefore, she enjoys fostering opportunities for people of African descent, their communities, as well as other racialized groups to develop, prosper, and attain their full potential.

Ammar Shakoor (he/him)

My name is Ammar Shakoor and I am a fourth-year Business student at Saint Mary's University. I am proud to serve as the President of Saint Mary's University's Muslim society, where my main focus is to voice the concerns and issues of Muslim students on campus and create a safe and inclusive space for them to thrive. I also oversee various activities that help connect Muslim students at SMU to the wider community in Halifax.

Apart from my work as President, I am also an active volunteer in multiple Muslim non-profit organizations. In my current role, I serve as the Youth Outreach and Operations Executive at Sabeel Muslim Youth and Community Center. In this role, I help facilitate workshops, camps and other educational activities for middle school, high school and university students, focusing on modern-day issues, youth empowerment, education and leadership development through a practical as well as spiritual lens.

I am also proud to be a part of the National Canadian Council for Muslims' (NCCM) campus liaison program, where I serve as the campus liaison for Saint Mary's University. Some of my duties involve attending advocacy days organized by NCCM in the Canadian parliament and meeting with local MPs to address critical issues pertaining to the Muslim community. Through my various leadership roles and volunteer work, I am committed to making a positive impact in my community and advocating for the rights of Muslims in Canada.