NDP Statement on the 40th Anniversary of Black July

Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh issued the following statement:

“Between July 24 and 30, 1983, Tamils faced a targeted brutal campaign of violence against their community, known as Black July. Countless mobs committed genocidal acts in Sri Lanka, killing at least 3,000 Tamils and displacing over 150,000 people. These events were followed by decades of civil war and genocide that have led to many tens of thousands of Tamils dead and have sent hundreds of thousands of Tamils into exile.

Today, New Democrats remember all those impacted by Black July, a cruel experience which, 40 years later, remains a time of mourning for the Tamil diaspora.

As the effects of the trauma and displacement are still felt, let’s remember the power of coming together to overcome hatred. The dark days of the Tamil Genocide are a stark reminder of the collective responsibility we must call out hate in all forms, refuse to be a bystander, and work towards healing the wounds of all those impacted by genocide, wherever we live.

New Democrats renew their calls for the United Nations to establish an international, independent investigation into the genocide against Tamils committed in Sri Lanka.”