Toronto Liberal MP Arif Virani has called out a teacher in his riding for donning blackface for Halloween at Parkdale Collegiate..But when his party leader and prime minister, Justin Trudeau, wore blackface repeatedly, Virani stayed silent..“The wearing of Blackface by a teacher at Parkdale CI is simply unacceptable,” tweeted Virani..“We need a prompt investigation by TDSB and our community needs to see prompt accountability.”.Trudeau, has come under fire several times for his blackface appearances in the past.. Justin-Trudeau-blackface-west-point-grey-academyJustin Trudeau in brownface or blackface – April 2001 West Point Grey Academy newsletter .Even as photos of Trudeau’s backface incidents surfaced and circulated, Liberal MP Virani spoke to the CBC while campaigning in September 2019 in support of Trudeau.. Justin-Trudeau-Blackface-Screen-Shot-2021-09-20-at-11.37.15-AMJustin Trudeau in brownface or blackface in 2001 .“I have confidence in my leader,” Virani said, pointing to the Liberals’ national anti-racism strategy as an example..“That, to me, is a man that I want to continue to support. That is why I have confidence in him — because I know that he is a person that actually believes what he is talking about.”.Now, Virani is taking aim at Parkdale Collegiate Institute teacher, Gorian Surlan, for arriving at school on Friday in blackface as part of his Halloween costume..Parents were notified by the school’s principal, Julie Ardell, Saturday evening about the incident..“As you know, many staff and students were dressed up for Halloween, but late in the morning, a number of students alerted the vice principal that a white staff member was in ‘blackface,’ ” she wrote, as reported by the Toronto Star..“Caricatures of peoples’ race or culture are not appropriate and are offensive and hurtful.”.Ardell has acknowledged the teacher could face “serious consequences” for the costume and many members of the community told the Star they didn’t feel the administration acted quick enough to remove Surlan..“I was devastated, I was shaking. I can’t believe it, there’s no excuse in 2021, in Toronto, in Parkdale, for a teacher to make a ‘mistake,’ if that’s what anyone wants to call this,” said Liz Ikiriko, an art curator whose 14-year-old son Otis is in the class..A photo of Surlan seen in black face paint was shared on Twitter by the Toronto Star..A petition to the Toronto District School Board calling for it to do more on the racism issue was started by Cathy Gatlin, a parent of one of the students at Parkdale Collegiate..“We are writing to you as concerned parents and neighbours about the serious incident of anti-black racism that took place in your school,” the petition reads..As of Wednesday morning, there were 1,916 signatures on the petition which includes details of the incident and states the current policy and protocols for hate and racial discrimination are not enough..According to a statement the TDSB provided to the Western Standard, Surlan has been put on home assignment until a full investigation into the incident is completed..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
