The conversation over Justin Trudeau’s blackface had widened to a conversation about anti-Blackness in Canada, and stereotypes of Muslims and anti-Arab racism.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is just a few years older than I am, and he grew up in the same Montreal I did in the 1980s. Which is why I can understand the roots of his “brownface” stunt.

On June 22, 2019, a sold-out crowd of over 1,000 were joined by 70+ elected officials, media representatives, and personalities such as Toronto Raptors Superfan, Nav Bhatia and CEO of Paramount Foods Mohamad Fakih at the Canadian Muslim Vote (TCMV) Eid Dinner in Toronto, Ontario.

TORONTO, ON - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will address The Canadian-Muslim Vote’s (TCMV) annual Eid Dinner on Friday, June 21, 2019. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Lisa Raitt and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will also be addressing the event.

On Sunday, March 17th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC) mosque in Ottawa, Ontario to express his condolences to the Muslim community in the wake of the terrorist attack against Muslims during Friday prayers in Christchurch, New Zealand.

On September 12th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA) for Eid al Adha prayers. This isn't the first time Ottawa's main mosque has hosted a Prime Minister. Shortly after September 11th, Prime Minister Jean Chrietien visited this mosque offering reassurances to Muslim Canadians in the wake of a dramatic rise in violent Islamophobic incidents in Canada and the US. So, it was fitting that just a day after the 15th Anniversary of September 11th, Prime Minister Trudeau should visit this same mosque. 

Recently, amid security concerns and alleged electoral fraud, Afghan men and women stood under pouring rain to cast their ballot in the 2014 presidential elections in Afghanistan.

Many young people were discouraged from voting by family members because of the danger around many polling stations. But regardless, images show long lines winding their way around those areas.

Here in Canada, there are few security concerns or fear of attacks and yet many young people are not turning up at voting stations.  According to Elections Canada, 38.8% of youth between ages 18-24 participated in the federal elections in 2011.