Semiahmoo Peninsula residents are invited to raise their hands against racism Saturday at Centennial Park.
The Say No to Racism campaign was presented to council Monday by Surrey radio veteran Sushma Dutt and Moti Bali, chair of White Rock's Diwali festival.
The White Rock event – one of six taking place in Metro Vancouver – will run from noon to 4 p.m., and participants can expect to get a little messy.
Washable paint and paper will be provided and those who attend will be invited to dip their hands in the paint and put it on a placard, with either their name or a message against racism written beside it.
"In our lives, at one time or another, we've all faced racism. Whether we're white, black, whatever colour you are. All of us. Whatever religion you belong to. Whatever culture you belong to," Dutt told council.
The idea for the colourful event sprung from the Holi Festival, which is marked thousands in South Asia – and around the world – on March 7.
Also known as the Festival of Colours, the ancient Hindu festival has become popular in many communities as a spring celebration of love, frolic and colours.
Traditionally, washable paint is sprayed and coloured onto friends and foes.'
Dutt said that the aim was to take Holi "out of the Indian context and bring it to the entire Canadian community."
After the placards are painted, they will be laminated, and organizers asked that those completed at Centennial Arena be put on display at White Rock City Hall in the two weeks leading up to End Racism Day on March 21.
On the 21st, the signs will be collected for a march marking the global event on Vancouver's Commercial Drive.
Other city's participating in the event are Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey.
Centennial Arena is located at 14600 North Bluff Rd.