Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer offered a scathing review of Trudeau’s actions to reporters late last night.
Time Magazine published a photo from 2001 showing Justin Trudeau, then a teacher in Vancouver, dressed in brownface at a party.
My response to the Time Magazine story about Justin Trudeau: pic.twitter.com/nIfukTRiev
— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) September 19, 2019
Scheer says wearing brownface is an act of open mockery and racism. He says it was just as racist in 2001 as it is today and says Trudeau is not fit to be Prime Minister.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh became emotional when reacting, not to the photo but for the effect it’s going to have.
Tonight is not about the Prime Minister.
It’s about every young person mocked for the colour of their skin.
The child who had their turban ripped off their head.
And those reliving intense feelings of pain & hurt from past experiences of racism.
To you, I say you are loved.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) September 19, 2019
Singh told reporters ‘It’s troubling” and “its insulting.” He went on to say “anytime we hear examples of brownface or blackface, it’s making a mockery of what they live and what their lived experiences are.”
He says the image doesn’t jar him personally as he grew up fighting against racism directed at him. But he knows a lot of people who couldn’t fight back, and he fears this will do real damage.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May responded to the report on twitter, saying she is “deeply shocked by the racism shown in the photograph of Justin Trudeau.”
I am deeply shocked by the racism shown in the photograph of Justin Trudeau. He must apologize for the harm done and commit to learning and appreciating the requirement to model social justice leadership at all levels of government. In this matter he has failed.
— Elizabeth May (@ElizabethMay) September 19, 2019
Exclusive: Justin Trudeau wore brownface at 2001 ‘Arabian Nights’ party while he taught at a private school, Canada’s Liberal Party admits https://t.co/j3UobfYNIF
— TIME (@TIME) September 18, 2019
Prime Minister Apologizes for Brownface Costume Picture
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for wearing a brownface costume in 2001, but says he won’t resign.
Trudeau said he is “disappointed and pissed off” in himself. He told reporters this evening “at the time time I should have known better, but I know better now.”
The picture of Trudeau surfaced Wednesday evening in an exclusive Time report that has rocked the federal election campaign.
During a hastily called news conference on his campaign plane, Trudeau admitted that he also used brownface makeup in a high school event. “I wish I hadn’t done it but I did it” he said.
The picture shows Trudeau at an Arabian Nights themed party when he was a teacher at a private school in Vancouver.
