“OPEN LETTER TO THE ALBERTA CHIEF SUPERINTENDENTS OF EDUCATION April 26, 2021 Attention:
Mr Darrel Robertson, Edmonton Public Schools
Mr Robert Martin, Edmonton Catholic Schools
Mr Christopher Usih, Calgary Board of Education
Dr. Bryan Szumlas, Calgary Catholic School District
Re: Justice for Pazo Dear aforementioned:
We are a group of concerned parents and physicians, many amongst us are black and people of color, economic immigrants, refugees, who together have chosen to call Canada, home.
Part of our attraction to this land was the safety and freedom we all want our children to experience in this glorious land. Free of racial prejudice, to be judged by the nature of their character, not the color of their skin. Alas, to our utmost disgust and indignation, one of ours, 14-year-old Pazo, the son of a struggling single mother to 5 kids from Uganda, who alongside his family, recently immigrated to Canada, seeking in this land, a promise for security and hope of a brighter future, was attacked by fellow classmates in Edmonton.
An unprovoked assault of a defenseless minor, beaten up while racial slurs, the n-word and other vile comments were hurled at him, then abandoned on the field. A very disturbing video of this incident has been widely shared online and seen by many of us. He got on a bus, fled home to his family and was taken to the hospital with varied injuries.
Pazo suffered a concussion as well as severe body injuries. Left with physical, emotional, and mental trauma. Unfortunately, the psychological trauma from the incident has left Pazo crippled with fears of leaving home or going back to school. This assault was the final straw following several incidents of bullying in the school he had previously endured. The attack has forced his mom to take time off work to care for her son, a family of 6 surviving on her only income. Their financial hardship can only be imagined.
The pain of this family is a collective trauma for us all. We are demanding justice for Pazo. We want the perpetrators brought to book. Accountability is tantamount to assure the safety of all of our children. This is not acceptable. We want his assailants suspended from school for a timed period as well as partake in anti-racism training and Community service during their suspension.
We also want the coercion technique of the police in this matter questioned as Pazo alleges a police officer tried to get him to admit that he instigated the attack after the family called the EPS and they were advised to call the complaint line so an officer could be dispatched. This is simply appalling and re-traumatizing for a child who had just been assaulted by 7 other boys concurrently. We want an anti-racism curriculum instituted at all levels in our schools. Children need to be taught a different narrative about race and equality.
It is not ingrained but learned and it is our duty to teach. Lastly, we demand that the department of Education pay for psychologist sessions for Pazo. We want to ensure his holistic healing and prevent another suicide from occuring. We have not forgotten the case of nine-year-old Amal Alshteiwi, a Syrian refugee who committed suicide following strings of bullying incidents in school that had been reported to the school authorities by the family prior to the tragic end.
We want to prevent any further similar incidents. Racism and bullying remain endemic problems in our society and our lives and voices matter. The lives of our children matter. They are Canadians, have the same rights as other Canadians and should not be made to feel any less in their own Country.
We are the change we want to see. As a group of concerned citizens, parents, black and people of color, physicians, we strongly urge the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, to ensure Pazo gets the justice he deserves.
We demand the assured safety of our children, as we know this will pave the path for a safer, more tolerant future for all our Canadian children as this country is one of diverse ethnicities where we should all reside in harmony as a model to the rest of the world,” Dr. Seyi Akinola, supported by a string of signatures.
