ONA Condemns Hate-Motivated Violence at University of Waterloo

TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) Board of Directors, on behalf of 68,000 front-line nurses and health-care professionals, are condemning the hate-motivated violence that took place at the University of Waterloo this week.

University faculty and students were violently attacked during a philosophy class focused on gender issues. A professor and two students were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The attack is believed to have been motivated by hate regarding gender expression and gender identity.

ONA President Erin Ariss, RN says Ontario’s registered nurses and health-care professionals stand in solidarity with the staff and students who were impacted by this horrifying act. Ariss said this is a chilling reminder that we must all take an active stance against hatred and discrimination in all its forms.

ONA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and oppression. It is deeply alarming that students, staff and faculty in a university have suffered this violence and trauma.

ONA calls on all Ontarians to stand up and join together in fighting against the rising level of hate and violence that is increasingly targeting the province’s Black and racialized people, women, Indigenous people and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

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To arrange an interview, contact:

Sheree Bond shereeb@ona.org