Images of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in blackface produced widespread reaction to the images themselves, and on the issue of race and racism in Canada.

Here is some of what was said by politicians, federal party leaders and candidates:

害羞草研究所淚 never talked about this. Quite frankly, I was embarrassed. It was not something that represents the person I害羞草研究所檝e become, the leader I try to be and it was really embarrassing.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau

害羞草研究所淭he fact is, I didn害羞草研究所檛 understand how hurtful this is to people who live with discrimination every single day. I have always acknowledged that I come from a place of privilege, but I now need to acknowledge that comes with a massive blind spot.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Trudeau

害羞草研究所淲hen we reflect on mistakes we害羞草研究所檝e made in the past, that害羞草研究所檚 a question that we害羞草研究所檙e always going to be asking 害羞草研究所� why did we do that? Why did we think it was OK? Why did we think it was a good idea at the time? It wasn害羞草研究所檛 a good idea. It was a terrible idea. It was something that minimizes and takes advantage of a reality that I have not had to live with 害羞草研究所� of being discriminated against, of being marginalized, of being judged, for the colour of my skin, for my language, my background.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Trudeau

害羞草研究所淚 have to recognize I let a lot of people down with that choice, and I stand here today to reflect on that and ask for forgiveness.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Trudeau

READ MORE: Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 racist photos worry B.C. First Nation chief

害羞草研究所淚 believe that Canadians might have been able to accept his apology if he had been truthful and open, if he hadn害羞草研究所檛 based that apology on a lie, but he was specifically asked if there were other incidences where he engaged in this type of racist behaviour and he indicated that there was only one other incident and now we know that there was at least three.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer

害羞草研究所淚 first saw the video this morning when it was published this morning, and I can say there was an individual who was concerned by this and brought it to our campaign and our campaign did turn it over to a news outlet for verification. We left it in their hands.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Scheer

害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檝e got a prime minister that is mocking the lived realities of Canadians, it can inflame those tensions and give more oxygen to those who believe in discriminating (against) people based on the way they look. That害羞草研究所檚 why it害羞草研究所檚 deeply concerning. The impacts that this has on Canada and on the lives of Canadians can害羞草研究所檛 be underestimated. This is massive. And that害羞草研究所檚 why it害羞草研究所檚 so important for us to think about what people are going through right now and how they might be hurting.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

害羞草研究所淚 thought he (Singh) showed genuine concern, and as someone who obviously has been victim of these types of things in a way that I never have, I think he responded with a lot of class and dignity and, obviously, he was speaking on behalf of so many Canadians who have been victims of racist acts or mockery like that.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Scheer

害羞草研究所淚 can understand that some people were hurt with these pictures. But Mr. Trudeau said that he was sorry, so we have to talk about something else.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Quebec Premier Francois Legault

害羞草研究所淚 told him, 害羞草研究所楶rime Minister, people are going to hurt, but I think the black community will be forgiving.害羞草研究所� The reason why they are going to be forgiving is because they have seen what he has done and they have appreciated what he has done.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Greg Fergus, Liberal candidate, chair of Parliament害羞草研究所檚 black caucus

害羞草研究所淭here is no place in our country to take pictures or act in that way. As Indigenous people, as an Indigenous person myself who has faced racism and discrimination, it害羞草研究所檚 entirely unacceptable.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Jody Wilson-Raybould, Independent candidate and former Liberal cabinet minister

READ MORE: Liberal candidate Stephen Fuhr害羞草研究所檚 B.C. campaign signs vandalized with blackface

害羞草研究所淲hen I saw that picture last night, certainly it was a sucker-punch. I think for me and for a lot of people from minority communities it really makes you start to think, 害羞草研究所榃hen is this ever going to end?害羞草研究所� You work so hard, you go to school, you know you have to be just a little bit better than the next person because you have to prove just a little bit more, you succeed, you go on in your career 害羞草研究所� maybe you even become the mayor 害羞草研究所� and then you害羞草研究所檙e reminded in the worst possible way that people you respect, people you admire, people who are allies in the battle with you, still need a little bit of education.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know what to say. I害羞草研究所檓 sick about it. And I think about the impact for every child in this country, Indigenous or people of colour, and how it impacts them personally. It does harm. It害羞草研究所檚 racist.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Green Leader Elizabeth May

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l just make three brief comments of principles that I think we need to keep in mind in response to this. One is that when we see acts of racism, we should call them out as well as understanding their systemic roots and that there害羞草研究所檚 something deeper going on. The second is that I think we should expect the highest levels of integrity from our leaders and that means that nothing should be hidden from us, certainly not for a long period of time. And the third is that I think we need to hold our representatives to account. And in the case of party leaders, I think other representatives of that party should hold their leader to account.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Jane Philpott, Independent candidate and former Liberal cabinet minister

害羞草研究所淭his is not about whether or not the prime minister is racist, it害羞草研究所檚 about the system in which we live in that is inherently racist and makes people think it is OK to mock racialized people害羞草研究所檚 lived experiences and appearances. People should be looking at this and talking about this; not just in respect to the prime minister, but critically looking at the racism, oppression and hate that us brown, black, and Indigenous people experience in our day-to-day lives.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Samya Hasan, executive director, Council of Agencies Serving South Asians

READ MORE: Photos surface of Conservative candidate at B.C. event with people in blackface

害羞草研究所淚 was very disheartened and disappointed to see these images. These indefensible images bring back many painful memories of racism that I and other racialized Canadians have experienced throughout our lives. The prime minister has sincerely apologized and expressed his regret. The Justin Trudeau that I have come to know over the last four years is a champion of diversity and inclusion, and a strong ally of racialized communities.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Amarjeet Sohi, Edmonton Liberal candidate and cabinet minister

The Canadian Press

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