About 200 people rallied in front of the U.S. General Consulate building in Toronto, Ont. today in opposition to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s executive order on immigration that bans citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries entry into the United States. This protest was one of many that have occurred in North America this past week. Here is the slideshow of what some of the people at the Toronto protest had to say to Skedline photojournalist Fallon Hewitt.
Osama Alkhaitd came out to the protest in defense of refugees.
“I am here defending the good cause, which is to stop banning refugees from anywhere in the world.”
Sarah Biezanson came out to not only reject Trump’s policies but use her voice to support those who are affected by hate and violence.
“I’m here to reject Trump and his blatantly racist policies. I’m also here in support of the broader causes that we saw a lot of people rally behind in solidarity last week for the Women’s March. It wasn’t just about women’s issues. It was also about recognizing the intersectional ways in which all these things come together. Myself, as a white woman, I have a lot more power and privilege. I don’t necessarily want it but I want to use it for good. I want to use it to raise my voice in support black women, trans black women who face violence. I want to use my voice in support of Muslims who are facing persecution and hatred in the world over, and the terrible form it took last night in Quebec. I’m raising my voice in opposition to the rise of fascism that I think we are seeing everywhere in the world. It happens in a creeping way that is a danger to all of us, and if we don’t speak up now, tomorrow they will come for us.”
“And to say, indeed, I will punch a Nazi. I will if it comes to that.”
Sadaf Dost protested to highlight that society can’t let what's happening the U.S. happen in Canada.
“I am here because there has been a bad impact on Canadians and because of Donald Trump, things that were happening there are happening here, which is not okay. We cannot let that happen. I am here to show that it is not okay to ban Muslims to come to the United States. We are also human beings, and we look bad everywhere because we are Muslims. That's not fair. That's why I’m here.”
Amenah Abusara came out to the protest because the issue is close to her heart and family.
“My dad was a Muslim refugee to Canada, and to think that if I was just a little more south, this could have affected my whole family once upon a time and is close to my heart. I want to be able to look back at this time and know that I did something and I stood for something.”
John Oskahboose-Jacobs was protesting to not only support refugees and immigrants, but also in support of Standing Rock. Oskahboose-Jacobs's flag represents the American Indian Movement.
“I'm here in support of the immigrants and refugees who are being denied access to the United States by President Trump. I’m against his policies, and also here in support of the Standing Rock First Nation, and the pipelines their trying to drive through their traditional homelands of the Lakota people.”
© 2026 Fallon Hewitt
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