Unifor pledges support to American Civil Liberties Union in response to Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’

TORONTO—Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector labour union, will donate $5,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim majority countries.

“This is a direct attack on equality,” said Mohamad Alsadi, Unifor director, Human Rights and International department. “The Social Justice Fund stands in solidarity with all who are being turned away from America simply because of their faith or country of origin.”

Trump has stated that the order, which bars entry into the United States for anyone from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria for 90 days, is meant to help keep Islamic terrorists out of the U.S. and protect American citizens.

“It’s shameful that President Trump chooses to hide behind the false blanket of security in order to discriminate against Muslims and foster Islamophobia,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The use of fear to deny entry to the U.S. and create a racial and religious divide must be challenged, and we support the ACLU in that fight.”

The ACLU provided support to refugees and immigrants who were refused entry and detained at American airports after the executive order was signed. A U.S. federal judge granted the ACLU’s request for a nationwide temporary injunction to block the deportation of those left stranded, but the main court challenge on the legality of the order continues.