More than a dozen black community groups have come out against Toronto's bid for the 2008 Olympics, saying the city should focus first on mending fences with minorities.
Reiterating an earlier call for Mayor Mel Lastman's immediate resignation, the group also told reporters at a news conference at City Hall today that they are now questioning the Olympic bid. They said it is within their power to harm Toronto's chances. ''While we are not threatening to use whatever contacts we might have with those in leadership positions in African and Caribbean countries to affect Toronto's bid, we want the leadership of this city to address the issues of anti-black racism,'' said Margaret Parsons, executive director of the African Canadian Legal Clinic. ''Many of us strongly believe the city's priorities are wrong in pursuing the Olympics.'' Lastman has already publicly apologized for remarks he made several weeks ago. He was not immediately available for comment today. Before leaving on an early June trip to Africa to promote the city's Olympic bid, the mayor told a Star reporter that he didn't want to go to Kenya.''I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with natives dancing around me,'' Lastman said.
The comments caused a storm of controversy when they became public last week. Grace Edward Galabuzi, a spokesperson for the Centre for Social Justice, said the mayor's apology was not heartfelt. ''The mayor's anti-black racist comments demonstrate his frame of mind.'' The group, whose members included the Congress of Black Women, Jamaican Canadian Association and the Canadian Association of Black Educators, said they are angry, hurt and feel victimized, not only by the mayor's comments but by the fact that nothing has been done about the comments. Parsons said the black community is disappointed that city counsellors have not addressed the incident or come out against the mayor. They are hoping City Council will do just that at today's meeting, the first since the comments were made public.Parsons also added that the city has asked many of the black community's members for contributions to the Olympic bid project.Copyright 1996-2001. Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved.