Anak Bayan Speech at Rally Against Anti-Asian Racism

by Andi & Jackie, on behalf of Anak Bayan Montreal
March 21st, 2021 at Cabot Square
"My name is Andi and I’ve come here in sadness, frustration, and rage but as I look around this park, I see that I am not alone. Even though we’re coming together because of discrimination, injustice, and devastating violence, it’s in these times that we’re pulled to continue to build collective solidarity and create new, transformative systems.
I am here as a member and on behalf of Anakbayan Montreal, an organization of Filipino Youth that mobilizes for National Democracy in the Philippines. Our partner organizations are Migrante, PINAY, The Filipino Parent Support Group, The Centre for Philippine Concerns, and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. All of these groups formed Kapit Bisig (A National Network to build Filipino Collective Community Care in crisis situations but also in the long-term) recognizing that our community is being particularly impacted by COVID-19 because of ongoing systemic oppression, discrimination, and inequities.
What we know is that Filipino women workers, especially Temporary Foreign Workers with precarious status, such as factory Workers, farm workers and domestic workers, are among the most vulnerable group of those working in essential and frontline jobs in so-called Canada, but not just during the Pandemic. About 90% of domestic workers are Filipinos, primarily women. Filipino Women Workers are also overrepresented in the Health Care sector as nurses, PABs, and PSWs, protecting and supporting society every day. [...]"