Tamil Fest 2024: A Resilient Celebration of Community

Toronto, August 27, 2024 – The 10th Annual Tamil Street Festival (Tamil Fest), organized by the Canadian Tamil Congress, took place successfully on August 24th and 25th on Markham Road, despite facing significant challenges, disruptions, and threats. This year’s event, which celebrates Tamil art, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, and history, was marked by attempts to hinder its success through misinformation, intimidation, and violence.

Large number of Tamil community members and supporters attended the festival, showcasing their solidarity and support for this important cultural event. However, the celebrations were marred by the actions of certain disruptive individuals who sought to undermine the festival’s peaceful proceedings. There were reports of attendees, including women, children, and the elderly, being subjected to verbal harassment and intimidation. Unauthorized loudspeakers were used to broadcast inflammatory and offensive language, targeting performers, volunteers, and business participants. These incidents resulted in the premature cessation of main stage events on the first day of the festival. On the second day, agitators trespassed into the festival grounds, attempting to disrupt the ongoing celebrations, leading to further altercations and disorder.

The Canadian Tamil Congress condemns these acts of violence, threats and intimidation, which not only threatened the safety of festival-goers but also aimed to sow division within the community. The actions of these individuals stand in stark contrast to the spirit of unity and cultural pride that the Tamil Street Festival represents.

In light of these events, the Canadian Tamil Congress extends its heartfelt gratitude to the thousands of community members who attended and supported the festival, demonstrating resilience and commitment to preserving Tamil culture. We also thank the businesses, artists, media partners, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers who, despite facing threats and intimidation, stood firm in their support. A special note of appreciation is extended to the law enforcement officers and service providers who ensured the safety and smooth operation of the festival under challenging circumstances.

The Canadian Tamil Congress calls on law enforcement officials and other government authorities to take immediate action and investigate these incidents and ensure the safety and security of public events. It is imperative that measures are put in place to prevent such acts of intimidation and violence from recurring, and to uphold the right of all individuals to celebrate their cultural heritage without fear.

The Canadian Tamil Congress remains committed to promoting and celebrating Tamil culture and looks forward to future events that will continue to strengthen our community’s bonds.