Hundreds of individuals gathered outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto on Saturday afternoon to participate in the “No Kings” protest against President Donald Trump. The protest in Toronto is part of a series of events happening both in the U.S. and internationally to oppose policies implemented by the Trump administration and recent global developments.
Julie Buchanan, Toronto chair for Democrats Abroad, highlighted a significant concern among protestors regarding the unauthorized military actions in the Middle East, stating it goes against the constitution. She emphasized the multitude of actions taken by Trump that have sparked discontent among the demonstrators.
Various rallies have been organized across the U.S. in recent weeks following airstrikes on Iran by the White House and Israel on February 28. In downtown Toronto, protestors marched with a range of signs bearing messages such as “history repeats if we stay silent” and “injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.”
Buchanan emphasized that the Toronto protest aims to unite American and dual citizens, urging them to exercise their right to vote. While there is no official count of Americans residing in Canada, approximately 600,000 U.S. citizens in the country participated in the last election. Buchanan stressed the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm election.
Previous No Kings events prompted responses from Trump, who denied claims of being a king and dismissed the protestors as not representing the American people. Laurie O’Neal, a protester from Hamilton, noted that Trump’s policies are impacting Canadians, prompting a regular gathering in Hamilton to protest against U.S.-related issues affecting them.
Another demonstrator, Beverly Ambler, expressed shock at the perceived selfishness and lack of respect for humanity in the U.S., emphasizing the wrongfulness of targeting individuals based on their birthplace. The protest also drew attention to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s opposition to involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the city during the FIFA World Cup games, as she voiced her stance on social media.