Large crowd turns out for Our Canada Includes Muslims rally

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This article was published 13/10/2015 (3714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They were hoping 50 people would show up for a rally organized by non-Muslims in support of Muslim Canadians.

Before the doors opened at noon Tuesday, the crowd waiting on the sidewalk to get into the event dubbed Our Canada Includes Muslims was spilling out onto Ellice Avenue.

“This is Stephen Harper’s idea that we get together,” joked organizer Shaun Loney. Inside the Winnipeg Central Mosque, the entrepreneur and social enterprise developer told the crowd of about 200 that he and his family were upset by the prime minister dividing Canadians by using the niqab as a wedge issue to ignite the Conservative base. Loney’s family is friends with Idris Knapp and his family, who are Muslim. Knapp works at the Winnipeg Central Mosque, where Loney staged the gathering.

“For many of us, it’s the first trip to a mosque,” Loney told the multicultural crowd. “When we entered the door, we found Canada.”

It was the first time Jennifer McRae-King’s three daughters, ages six, nine and 13, had visited a mosque.

“It’s not that much different from a church,” said Mequire, 13, “only there’s no chairs.” Her mother, McRae-King, said she wants her children to learn about human rights in Canada. She thought the lunchtime rally would be a chance for them to “engage” with the them firsthand.

Muslims at the event at said they were surprised at and pleased by the turnout.

“We feel supported — thank you,” Knapp said.

For social work student, Warda Ahmed, it was an affirmation of being Canadian.

“No matter what I look like, what I wear, this is my home,” Ahmed said. He family came to Canada from Somalia 11 years ago. She said she decided to wear a hijab six years ago. Ahmed said she can’t believe what Muslim women choose to wear on their heads became “the centre of attention” of the federal election campaign when there are so many crucial issues to address.

“Let’s talk about Shoal Lake where people don’t have (running) water to drink… and our murdered and missing aboriginal sisters,” she said.

The niqab debate may have been about just a couple of Muslim women wanting to wear a face veil at their citizenship ceremonies but it has riled many multifaith groups and human rights advocates.

A larger rally is planned for outside the Manitoba legislature for Saturday at 2 p.m.

It’s being hosted by indigenous and Muslim community members, faith-based organizations, newcomer groups, peace activists and LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual) advocates.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca