Hundreds march for migrant rights in Toronto

This month marks two years since the world declared a pandemic that revealed countless societal inequities. Still, migrant workers in Canada who have been on the front lines without permanent resident status say “status for all” and an end to racism is long overdue.

“Without status, you’re nothing,” said Jane K., a personal support worker originally from Uganda who has had her permanent residence application denied five times since moving here in 2017. “I feel frustrated, but I won’t give up,” she told the Star.

Jane was one of several migrant advocates who joined the Migrant Rights Network’s rally at Larry Sefton Park and marched to Queen’s Park Sunday afternoon ahead of the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21.

Monday marks the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre when 69 South African demonstrators who were protesting apartheid laws were killed and 180 were injured by police in 1960.

On Sunday hundreds in Toronto marched 1.6 kilometres to represent the 1.6 million non-permanent residents advocates say are in Canada, calling for status so they may access health care, education and labour rights. As well, 19 other actions took place elsewhere in Canada and Jamaica.

“The reality of racism, it happens in the case of violence and murder, of course, but it happens primarily at the level of laws and policies,” Syed Hussan, executive director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change told the Star.

Instances of racism in Canada and the U.S. have steadily spiked in headlines, most recently during the so-called Freedom Convoy that took over Ottawa for weeks, where racist symbols were seen.

But “for us, this is not something that started last month,” Hussan said.

-TheStar