LATEST STORIES:

Niagara police seek Hamilton man for vehicle theft in Fort Erie

Niagara police arrest man after jewelry store thefts Niagara region

60-year-old homeless man killed in random attack outside U of T building: police

Police seize nearly 6K illegal marijuana plants after Wainfleet home invasion

Halton police seek three people wanted in Oakville jewelry store robbery

Halton police arrest and charge Burlington pair in Taylor Swift ticket scam

Ontario Federation of Labour to host rally outside Ford’s Etobicoke office over keffiyeh ban

  • Updated:
Share this story...

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is hosting an “emergency rally” outside of Doug Ford’s constituency office in Etobicoke on Friday evening to protest the keffiyeh ban in the Ontario legislature.

The federation says they urge Ford along with Conservative MPPs to take action and reverse the ban, which Speaker Ted Arnott introduced earlier last week.

Arnott says he believes the keffiyeh is being worn to make a political statement, and there is no place for that in the Ontario Legislative Assembly.

A keffiyeh is a checkered scarf that has come to symbolize solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war.

OFL President Laura Walton says it’s simply unconscionable to target a cultural community like this.

“As labour leaders, we won’t stand for it. If Ford won’t end this racist ban, we’ll defy it,” Walton says.

READ MORE: Hamilton MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh

On Thursday, Hamilton’s independent MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Ontario legislature for defying the keffiyeh ban.

And now, questions loom on how the speaker will respond if the ban continues to be ignored.

Jama shared on post on her X account indicating that she would be in attendance at the rally in Etobicoke on Friday.

“We have been wearing it for the past 100, 200 years. We’re not going to stop now because a politician does not like it,” said Ahmad Gained the OFL Secritary-Treasurer.

Protestors say they protested outside Priemire Ford’s office to give him a direct message that he needs to speak with his caucus and overturn the motion and allow the keffiyeh to be worn.

Leader of the official opposition Marit Stiles released a video message on Friday, saying the NDP are giving the Ford Government until May 6 to call off the ban or her party will defy it.

Protestors with the Federation of labour say Ford has the power to do more.

“If you wanna say that you think it’s bad idea then you have the ability, like every Premier does to instruct your caucus and make sure this ends today.”

Related Stories