About the Citizen Protection Project

History

View the CPP video now.

After the terrible events of September 11th and the destruction of a Hindu temple, Hamilton residents proposed steps to combat racism to Hamilton City Council. Among them was a presentation on United Nation’s Day, October 2001, by the United Nations Association in Canada (Hamilton Branch), that a series of safe havens be established to protect any person or persons from being threatened or harassed because of racial or religious differences. In a unanimous decision, the City Council agreed to support the concept. The safe havens are modelled on the Block Parent Program, a project that also began through the initiative of concerned citizens.

The United Nation Association in Canada (Hamilton Branch), Hamilton Culture of Peace Network, Hamilton Interfaith Group, City of Hamilton, Social Planning and Resource Council (SPRC), Settlement and Integration Services Organization (SISO), and the Hamilton Police Services are sponsors of the Citizen Protection Project.


Statement of Need

Hamilton is a highly multicultural city. After Vancouver and Toronto, Hamilton receives the third largest number of immigrants and one in four Hamiltonians was born outside Canada. In the two months following September 11, 2001, the Hamilton Police investigated 82 hate crimes, including assault and harassment – a significant increase over previous months. Among these was an arsonist’s attack on Hamilton’s Hindu Samaj Temple, resulting in the destruction of the temple. Apart from police action when a crime has been identified, victims of hate-motivated actions have little recourse.

These hate crimes and the climate of fear and intimidation that they engendered among visible minorities prompted a group of citizens, and those affected, to develop the Citizen Protection Project (CPP) to assist the victims and to help diminish both the climate of fear and the occurrence of such crimes in Hamilton.
 

Project Description

The aim of the Citizen Protection Project is to help protect and support any person or persons from being threatened or harassed because of ethnic, racial or religious differences and hate –motivated activities by providing a community-based response through the creation of safe havens.

It is also critical to educate the public about the need and rationale and locations of the safe havens. Education and promotion will be facilitated through Public Education & Awareness Forums. These forums will identify the kind of attitudes and conditions that foster hate crimes and victimisation as well as the values and behaviours that promote inclusiveness, a culture of peace, non-violence and social justice within the community.
 

Goals and Objectives

• To provide a community-based response to counter racially motivated crime by providing safe havens for people who feel threatened

• To train staff and volunteers to deal with the many causes of hate crimes and their effects through united community action and the education process

• To notify the public about the safe havens and the social and economic costs of racially-motivated criminal acts

• To promote positive social values and reduce the number of perpetrators and those who become victims

Who Can Become A Safe Haven?

Businesses or community organizations that are concerned about the safety and well-being of the citizens of Hamilton and are committed to countering hate motivated harassment and crime.

Please Contact Us for more information.