'Proud to be a Canadian': 2,000 on P.E.I. march against Islamophobia

Islanders of different ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds marched in Charlottetown on Saturday to show they welcome diversity and oppose policies that discriminate against refugees.

The march began at the bottom of Queen Street and continued peacefully up to Province House. The group — which police estimated at 2,000 — listened as organizers from the Cooper Institute and the Muslim community spoke out against Islamophobia. The speeches were interspersed with moments of silence and prayer.

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"It made me happy, at a point I felt like crying just seeing the amount of people who were out here to support those injured and hurt," said Hammad Ahmed, a UPEI student, who helped organize the Charlottetown march.

Amid widespread protests late last month, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order temporarily barring citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.

The gathering in Charlottetown was part of the National Day of Action against Islamophobia and White Supremacy, and gave people the opportunity to grieve for those killed at a mosque in Quebec City last week.

"The final goal was to bring all of us together and have a platform in which a lot of people wanted to grieve, and did not know how to do it, so giving a platform to everyone who wanted to show their support," Ahmed said.

Najam Chishti, president of the Muslim Society of PEI, said there was a lot of support from Islanders in the aftermath of the Quebec shooting.

"We got phone calls from churches, from organizations," he said. "People left flowers, cookies, everything on our doorsteps, which is quite amazing, and really felt that we are welcome in this community."

Mustafa Tahir said the show of solidarity on Saturday made him feel "proud to be a Canadian, proud to be an immigrant, proud to be a Muslim."

"When you're physically together, it gives you a strong sense of the community you're in, as opposed to just like typing it online," he said.

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