Vancouver has proven that it continues to be a beacon of hope against the rising global tide of hatred and intolerance.
On Saturday, over 4,000 people convened at Vancouver City Hall for a relatively peaceful rally against racism and fascism that countered a planned far-right, anti-Islam march.
There were many signs with messages and symbols of tolerance and diversity – everything from playing off a famous catchphrase by Bart Simpson to a sign that read “laundry is the only thing that should be separated by colour”.
Here are some of the best signs from yesterday’s counter rally:
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Daily Hive)
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Daily Hive)
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Daily Hive)
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Daily Hive)
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Daily Hive)
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Ivan Yastrebov / Instagram )
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Ivan Yastrebov / Instagram )
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Daily Hive)
The counter rally against racism by Stand Up to Racism Metro Vancouver at Vancouver City Hall on August 19, 2017. (Ivan Yastrebov / Instagram )
#standuptoracism #resist #love #loveoverhate #lovetrumpshate #democracy #progressive #progressivism #diversity #peoplepower #yvr #vancity #vancouver #bc #britishcolumbia #canada At the Oppose the Racists at Metro Vancouver Rally. In the light of recent development all over the world, it’s becoming increasingly clear in the last couple of months that the fight against, bigotry, hatred, racism, and extremism is one of the defining struggles of our generation. I can only speak for myself, but for me it just doesn’t feel right anymore not to stand up and speak out for human decency and acceptance when I continue to reap the benefits of the everyday privileges this secular and tolerant country offers to me as a gay man, a citizen, and an immigrant. Too many people had fought and died for the principles of democratic rights of this land — a land that was also stolen from the Indigenous community — so I am fully aware of the false equivalence of equating my small gesture to the bravery and acts of courage of the past, but if my small gesture is needed to form a better collective whole for the sake of a better future, then count me in.
A post shared by jerrytai429 (@jerrytai429) on Aug 20, 2017 at 1:41am PDT
Dear Coward Clan, On behalf of the dozens of friends I haven’t seen for years, the new ones I made because they were just so damn fabulous, or the gift of conversation we don’t make enough time for. Thank you. For showing your true colors to some who arrived fearful, saddened, and were left laughing and unified. Thank you. For the explosion of creativity mixed with empathy and restraint that the whole city will see, and whole country later tonight on the news, Thank you. For bad ass Grannies who think you’re a bunch of “pissants” , well, they’re right so thank them! 📸 The unstoppable Judy Graves
A post shared by Mark Brand (@mark.brand) on Aug 19, 2017 at 4:05pm PDT
#standuptoracism #resist #love #loveoverhate #lovetrumpshate #democracy #progressive #progressivism #diversity #peoplepower #yvr #vancity #vancouver #bc #britishcolumbia #canada At the Oppose the Racists at Metro Vancouver Rally. In the light of recent development all over the world, it’s becoming increasingly clear in the last couple of months that the fight against, bigotry, hatred, racism, and extremism is one of the defining struggles of our generation. I can only speak for myself, but for me it just doesn’t feel right anymore not to stand up and speak out for human decency and acceptance when I continue to reap the benefits of the everyday privileges this secular and tolerant country offers to me as a gay man, a citizen, and an immigrant. Too many people had fought and died for the principles of democratic rights of this land — a land that was also stolen from the Indigenous community — so I am fully aware of the false equivalence of equating my small gesture to the bravery and acts of courage of the past, but if my small gesture is needed to form a better collective whole for the sake of a better future, then count me in.
A post shared by jerrytai429 (@jerrytai429) on Aug 20, 2017 at 1:43am PDT
#standuptoracism #resist #love #loveoverhate #lovetrumpshate #democracy #progressive #progressivism #diversity #peoplepower #yvr #vancity #vancouver #bc #britishcolumbia #canada At the Oppose the Racists at Metro Vancouver Rally. In the light of recent development all over the world, it’s becoming increasingly clear in the last couple of months that the fight against, bigotry, hatred, racism, and extremism is one of the defining struggles of our generation. I can only speak for myself, but for me it just doesn’t feel right anymore not to stand up and speak out for human decency and acceptance when I continue to reap the benefits of the everyday privileges this secular and tolerant country offers to me as a gay man, a citizen, and an immigrant. Too many people had fought and died for the principles of democratic rights of this land — a land that was also stolen from the Indigenous community — so I am fully aware of the false equivalence of equating my small gesture to the bravery and acts of courage of the past, but if my small gesture is needed to form a better collective whole for the sake of a better future, then count me in.
A post shared by jerrytai429 (@jerrytai429) on Aug 20, 2017 at 1:44am PDT