OPSEU Coalition of Racialized Workers

Say No to the Muslim ban

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The Workers of Colour are calling for members this Black History Month to take the time to act against racism and Islamophobia and to say No to the Muslim ban.

Islamophobia is an emerging form of racism in Canada. It can be described as stereotypes, bias, acts of hostility toward individual Muslims or followers of Islam in general. In addition to individual acts of intolerance and racial profiling, Islamophobia leads to viewing Muslims as a greater security threat on an institutional, systemic and societal level.

— From the the Ontario Human Rights Commission Policies and Guidelines on Racism and Racial Discrimination

Consider taking up any of these actions:

  1. The Canadian Government must make an immediate public condemnation of the executive order by U.S. President Trump that bans Muslim visa holders from seven countries and also bans all refugees from entering the U.S.
  2. Canada must immediately open the Canada-U.S. border. This includes the revocation of the Safe Third Country Agreement which bars most refugee claimants entering from the U.S. over land to claim asylum in Canada. The Designated Country of Origin List, which makes it almost impossible for US citizens and citizens of 40 other countries to claim asylum in Canada, must be eliminated
  3. Canada must end racist, anti-refugee, anti-Black, Islamophobic exclusion of migrants and refugees within the Canadian border. This includes ending the system of indefinite immigration detention as well as exclusions already written into the refugee and immigration application process. The federal government must create a regularization program so that all undocumented residents can live in Canada with their families rather than fear mass deportations. Migrant workers in Canada must also be given permanent status and open work permits. Canada must abolish punitive, expensive, low-success-rate visa application procedures.We are calling for real, not symbolic, sanctuaries that guarantee access to services and refuse collaboration with Canadian and American border agents.
  4. Canada must rescind all federal legislation that attacks Black and Brown Muslims and refugees, including anti-terror legislation such as Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, and Bill C-51, the Federal Anti-Terrorism Act.  (Read an excellent primer on Bill C 51 here.)
  5. Support organizations like the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which is mounting a Charter challenge to Bill C-51 at the Ontario Superior Court.
  6. Participate in the campaign on social media: #nomuslimbanTO