Montreal MP condemns racist graffiti on campaign billboard amid ‘unprecedented’ increase in insults and death threats

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Content Disclaimer: This story refers to harsh and offensive language.

MONTREAL – Activists are sounding the alarm bells over racist graffiti found on a parliamentary candidate’s election sign just outside of Montreal.

An image of the sign, with the racial insult scrawled in graffiti, was first posted online by the Canadian Muslim Forum on Wednesday. The Forum condemned the graffiti in the strongest terms.

The poster showed candidate Sameer Zuberi, a Liberal candidate in Pierrefonds-Dollard, in the West Island.

Zuberi called this a nasty reminder of racism in Quebec and, nationally, just the latest example of an increase in hatred directed against him and other candidates.

This anonymous but public manifestation of racism is unacceptable, appalling and cowardly, he wrote on social media.

An image of a campaign sign defaced with racist graffiti was posted and condemned online by the Canadian Muslim Foundation on September 8, 2021 (Image source: Canadian Muslim Foundation, shady areas by CTV News)

However, acts of hate will not hinder my campaign, Zuberi wrote. Instead, it serves as a nasty reminder of the work we must continue to do and reaffirms my commitment to tackle racism in all its forms.

Zuberi told CTV in an interview that this particular sign is right at the intersection of Gouin W. and Des Sources boulevards, near a mosque and a high school – a place “where Indians and Pakistanis congregate. “, he added.

“It was a targeted act,” he said. “It was a sign of hatred.”

“UNPRECEDENTED” INCREASE IN Insults and Death Threats

But that the sign is just one of many disfigured posters targeting him and other candidates, Zuberi added.

He says more insults were written on his signs, as well as death threats. Hateful acts like these are more common this year, he said, calling the increase “unprecedented”.

He attributed the growing and disturbing pattern of this election to broader societal factors: the existing stigma exacerbated by pandemic stress.

“We are a multicultural society. It is a beautiful thing,” he said. “But there are moments of friction, and it shows on the posters.”

First elected in October 2019, Zuberi is the incumbent candidate for the constituency.

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