A group gathered in Richmond, B.C., Sunday to silently protest anti-Chinese pamphlets distributed earlier this month.
鈥淲e are here to show people our commitment to this community,鈥� rally organizer Edward Liu told CTV Vancouver.
The racially-charged pamphlets suggest that white people have been "marginalized" by Richmond鈥檚 large Chinese population and urge readers to join the 鈥渁lt-right,鈥� a loosely-organized American political movement that has been galvanized by President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 campaign rhetoric.
To Liu, however, the flyers鈥� purpose is simple. 鈥淭o divide our community according to ethnic origin,鈥� Liu said. The majority of Richmond鈥檚 residents identify as Chinese.
Lisa Descary joined the protest. 鈥淭hey do it to test the waters and see if they can pick up more supporters,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e don't want any of this Donald Trump business up here.鈥�
That sentiment was shared by local resident Frank Mackelston
鈥淚t鈥檚 awful, it makes me ill, it makes me angry,鈥� he told CTV Vancouver. 鈥淲e have good friends across the street who are Chinese, and what are they going to say when they see that in the door? This is not how we do business. This is not America.鈥�
At the protest, Richmond East MLA Linda Reid told CTV Vancouver that the pamphlets were 鈥渄espicable鈥� and 鈥渓acking integrity.鈥�
鈥淭he notion that in this year, 2016, that anyone thinks it鈥檚 appropriate to pit one group against another is fundamentally wrong,鈥� Reid said.
Richmond RCMP say they are investigating the pamphlets, calling them motivated by hate. They are urging others who receive similar material to contact their local police.
With files from CTV Vancouver
