Together as one
Thousands show support at annual Race Unity Day
The many languages that echoed around Victory Square in Nelson for Race Unity Day yesterday fell silent for a minute as the crowd remembered the victims of the Christchurch terror attack.
Organised by Multicultural Nelson Tasman and firmly fixed on the region’s events calendar, the annual celebration of dance, music, food and culture was postponed for a week after the mosque shootings.
Speaking to the crowd, Multicultural Nelson Tasman chairwoman Luz Zuniga described Race Unity Day 2019 as a celebration of diversity ‘‘like no other before this year’’.
Since the attack in Christchurch on March 15, ‘‘we have cried and mourned but at the same time, our spirits and the spirits of millions and millions around the world are waking up and committing to end violence, racism and oppression’’, she said.
All of the people of different cultures living in New Zealand ‘‘are now in a position where we have to honour and take a challenge and a responsibility of living by example, because we are it, this happened to us, to all of us’’.
Nelson Whakatu Muslim Association president Aiyaz Shah thanked Multicultural Nelson Tasman for the opportunity to express the gratitude of the Nelson Muslim community for the ongoing support it had received from fellow New Zealanders.
‘‘For your courage to stand with the victims, for your friendship, compassion and kindness,’’ Shah said. ‘‘We have been overwhelmed by your response. We love you in return.’’
He invited people to visit the Muslim association’s stalls to learn more about the faith and ‘‘share some kai’’. All proceeds from the association’s stalls would go to the families of the victims in Christchurch, he said.
‘‘We are all here today to celebrate Race Unity Day, which means we – the people of New Zealand – are united. No matter what our race, culture, ethnicity or faith is, we are one, we are us,’’ Shah said.
Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese said she believed the perpetrator of the Christchurch attack underestimated the resolve of New Zealanders, and Race Unity Day was the epitome of that resolve.
She challenged the members
‘‘No matter what our race, culture, ethnicity or faith is, we are one, we are us.’’
Aiyaz Shah, Nelson Whakatu Muslim Association president
of the crowd to maintain that unity every day.
‘‘We need to be actively inclusive,’’ Reese said.
At the Muslim community’s stalls, Nissa Mowjood said there were people from more than 20 nations in the Muslim association.
‘‘We all have something in common that brings us together,’’ she said. ‘‘We are learning from each other so much.’’
Mowjood, who is secretary of the association and knows four families directly affected by the attack, said there had been a huge amount of support for the Muslim community since March 15.
‘‘That support is a huge healer to us,’’ she said. ‘‘As the Imam said, ‘We are heartbroken but not broken’.’’
Nelson mums Karen Darling and Claire Nichols said they planned to send all of the proceeds from their stall to the families of the victims. T-shirts with the cartoon of the crying kiwi by Invercargill cartoonist Shaun Yeo and a print of a photo by Nelson Mail visual journalist Braden Fastier were selling fast.
‘‘I think we might need to print more,’’ Darling said.