Hundreds gather in support of Hamilton MPP Sarah Jama in virtual rally
Global News
Supporters say racism and discrimination played a factor in Sarah Jama's removal from the Ontario NDP caucus and censure in the assembly earlier this week.
Hundreds of supporters gathered in solidarity with Sarah Jama, member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre, in a virtual rally on Friday.
The rally featured a number of speakers who called for a ceasefire in Gaza and shared statements standing firmly behind Jama after her removal from the Ontario NDP caucus and censure in the assembly earlier this week.
“There are those that would rather we stay silent, we stay complicit,” said Bianca Mugyenyi, director of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and rally moderator, referring to Israeli violence in Gaza. “And for standing out and standing up against these horrors, Sarah Jama was censured by Ontario’s legislature and kicked out by the NDP caucus.
“This is a shame. The anti-Palestinian racism that we’ve seen is flagrant, but this is also a story of anti-Blackness.”
Since Monday night, Mugyenyi said at least 4,000 people have emailed Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles, ONDP president Janelle Brady and the caucus advocating for Sarah Jama’s reinstatement through an initiative organised by the Canadian Foreign Policy Network and Just Peace Advocates.
However, not all Jama supporters agree with calling on the ONDP to rescind her removal.
“(Stiles) and the party have tried to paint our sister (Jama) as an uncontrollable and unreasonable person and this is being done on purpose,” said author and activist Desmond Cole who spoke at the rally. “It exploits all the tropes related to Sarah’s Blackness, her womanhood, her Muslimness and her disability.”
“The notion that Jama might return to a party that has treated her this way and is continuing to treat her this way — it makes me sick.”
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