In a harsh rebuke of “sunny ways” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Toronto described him as a “white supremacist terrorist” over the weekend.
A YouTube video taken from an anti-Islamophobia protest in downtown Toronto Saturday appears to show Black Lives Matter co-founder Yusra Khogali condemning Trudeau for tweeting about Canada’s acceptance of refugees but not following that up with policy.
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After US President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, Trudeau tweeted “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”
However, when later questioned, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Canada would not be increasing its refugee quotas, prompting criticism that Trudeau’s words were opportunistic but ultimately empty.
At Saturday’s protest against Trump’s order attended by thousands, Khogali said, “What did Justin Trudeau say? He said he wanted to accept everyone who is not allowed into the US border to Canada,” which was met by some cheers.
“Don’t cheer,” Khogali said. “We know what that is, we know what that manipulation is, it is what this country is founded on—erasure and silencing of the real history of this land. The genocide of Indigenous people, in which the state is founded on. The enslavement and genocide of black people, in which the state is founded on.”
Khogali continued, “When Justin Trudeau says that he is a liar, he is a hypocrite, he is a white supremacist terrorist.”
Khogali then criticized Toronto Mayor John Tory for saying that Toronto is a sanctuary for refugees “when black people are being murdered in the city.” She pointed to the deaths of Andrew Loku and Jermaine Carby at the hands of police as examples.
Khogali encouraged protesters to rise up and fight back.
“We are the people, we have the power.”
VICE has reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office but has not yet heard back.
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