A new online petition to keep Trump out of Canada has already gathered over 10,000 signatures since it was launched on Saturday by the Council of Canadians.
“This overwhelming response is sending a strong message that Trump’s racist, misogynist, vulgar and dangerous words and actions are not welcome here,” says Leo Broderick, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “Trump’s vulgar rhetoric has insulted, demonized and endangered women, immigrants, Muslims, people of colour and many others. We are also deeply concerned that fifteen women have stated that Trump has committed sexual assault and sexual harassment. And we are disappointed that early on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended an invitation to Trump to visit Canada.”
The signatories are united in opposition to President Trump and his entering Canada to attend the upcoming G7 summit (a highly problematic and undemocratic body in of itself), set to take place June 8-9, at a remote, luxury resort in Quebec. All seven national leaders are expected to attend, including President Trump in his first official visit to Canada.
“This petition is an opportunity for all of us to say that Donald Trump isn’t welcome here,” says Brent Patterson, Political Director of the Council of Canadians. “We reject his racist characterization of Haiti and other countries, his misogynist views, his failure to unequivocally condemn white supremacist hate, his racist travel ban that targeted Muslims, his characterization of climate change as a hoax, and his characterization of Mexican immigrants as criminals.”
People power may have already stopped Trump from visiting Canada and the UK. After almost 100,000 people across Canada participated in Women's Marches in January 2017, media reports indicated that Trump declined a meeting in Canada over concerns about potential protests of a visit. Similarly, Trump recently cancelled a planned visit to the UK following public outcry.
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