DearBlackLivesMatterToronto,

IamwritingtodayindeepsadnessduetohowyoureventstranspiredatPride.IamaTurkish,
Muslim&gaywomanandaPridegoerfornearly2decadesbecausethisisaplaceofinclusive
acceptanceandlove.Ihaveperformedmymusicfor4yearsonseveralPridestages,joinedthe
marchesandthisyearIbuiltoneofthestageswithmycrew.YoucansayItakealotofpridein
TorontoPride,likesomanyothers.

OnSaturday,IreachedouttoyouwithallmyloveandenthusiasmbecauseIthoughtyourBLM
TorontomovementwasmuchneededandIwantedtosupportyou.Havingheardonlyalittlebit
aboutyourmovement,Iwasintriguedtolearnmorefromyoudirectly.Iapproachedyourbooth
andsaidIwouldliketobuyashirtandmakeadonationbutyourvolunteertoldmeshirtsare
$20andareonlyforsaletotheblackcommunity.Whatbafflesmeis,youreallytookthetimeto
tellmeImnottherightrace,colourorminoritytopurchaseyourtshirtsorsupportyour
organization.Irepliedthatsnotrightandleftquickly,dumbfoundedandshocked,tryingto
collectmyjawfromthestreetsofToronto.Pleaseexplainwhyyoudontwantsupportfrom
peopleofotherraces.Peoplearepeople.Theinjusticetoblacklivesiseveryonesissue,notjust
ablackcommunityissue.Segregationiswhatgotusinthismesstobeginwith,whyperpetuate
thecycle?

Thisisthemostinclusiveevent/time/festivaloftheyearandIwanttoremindyouthisyears
themewasYouCanSitWithUs.Youwerekindlyinvitedasguestsofhonourtositwithus,
celebrateandleadourmarchesbutyouchosesuchaninappropriateanddestructivewayof
gettingyourmessageacrossandrefusingservicetome.Itstragicandsadthatyourmentality
seemstobeblacklivesonlymattertootherblacklivesorthatnootherracecouldever
understand,sympathizeorsupportyourmovementoryourcommunity.Howdoyoujustify
pushingthe(IquoteyourBLM_TOreplytomytweet)nonblackidentifiedfolksandLGBT
policeofficerswhoareexcitedandjoyfultocomeouteveryyeartosupport,jointhefloats,to
celebratetheirpridewithusproudlyintheiruniformandkeepussafe?DidyouforgerOrlando,
proISISaccountthreatstoTorontoPride,gayrights,humanrightsandthepeopleyouare
tryingtorepresent.Youareanantiracismmovementpushingalliesfromotherracesaway.
Tragicallyironic.

Ikindlyaskyoutodaytopleasechangeyourapproachandstoppushingalliesaway.Your
causeisamazingbutyourmessageisdistorted,angryanddestructive.Theinjusticedoneto
blacklivesdeservesamorepositiverepresentationthanwhatyouarecurrentlyoffering.

Sincerely,

SimaXynKuday