Bill 21 denounced at rally as example of systemic racism
Opponents of Quebec’s controversial secularism law vowed Sunday to keep up the fight to see it rescinded ahead of the first anniversary of its passing.
Some gathered in front of Premier François Legault’s office downtown to denounce Bill 21, as it is known, a law they associate with systemic discrimination.
The legislation — which is the subject of several legal challenges — bars some public-sector teachers, police officers, judges, and other employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols such as turbans, kippas and hijabs, while at work.
Organizers called on the Quebec government to move away from policies that divide and move to unite the population for the challenges to come.
For activists who took the microphone on Sunday — a large number of them women — the law is first and foremost another symptom of the systemic racism that exists in Quebec society.
“Law 21 does not protect Quebec’s identity, it was created to make religious and racial profiling, particularly towards women, especially Muslim women,” Hanadi Saad said.
Ehab Lotayef, the co-ordinator of a campaign against Bill 21, said Legault “denies the existence of systemic racism and at the time he is legalizing systemic discrimination. The fight of rights and equality is not for a certain group and not against a certain group. We are not equal unless we are all equal.”
The Coalition Avenir Québec government has previously defended the secularism law, saying it enjoys strong support among Quebecers, and has described it as moderate.
The government invoked closure to adopt the secularism law on June 16, 2019.
Ichrak Nourel Hak, who wears a hijab, is a plaintiff in one of those challenges. She about to get her teaching degree and wants the right to work in her profession of choice.
“I can’t believe that in 2020, I’m here before you trying to make you understand that my rights are being violated,” she said. “I cannot believe that I still have to fight to make it clear that I won’t abandon my dream to allay false fears.”