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MONTREAL (CP) - Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean says people must be vigilant and fight against oppression wherever it rears its head.
Jean told a congregation at a downtown Montreal church that the legacy of slavery still holds a haunting place in the world's collective memory.
The Governor General, who was marking Black History Month with her appearance, says the struggle against oppression is not just one of race but one for all men and women who demand respect and dignity.
Jean paid tribute to U.S. civil rights leaders Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King in her speech, saying they rekindled a yearning for a better world.
The service was highlighted by the raised voices of several gospel choirs, which brought tears to Jean's eyes.
Jean visited the church as part of her first official visit to Quebec since becoming Governor General.
© The Canadian Press, 2006
