The leader of a Peninsula Muslim association says Sunday’s deadly shooting at a mosque in Quebec and the travel ban issued Friday by U.S. President Donald Trump have had far-reaching impacts on the local community.
Asad Syed, president of the White Rock Muslim Association, said Tuesday that while he’s not aware of any direct connections to the men who were killed in Sunday’s attack, options to increase security at the South Surrey mosque were discussed Monday night.
It’s something they’ve never considered before, Syed said.
“In this neighbourhood, we feel that it’s safe,” he said. “Because of the incident… why not take precautions? We never know.”
Regarding the travel ban – which bans entry into the U.S. by citizens and dual-citizens from the Muslim-majority countries of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for the next 90 days – Syed said “everyone” has someone affected, including himself.
“My son is (in Louisiana),” Syed told Peace Arch News Tuesday. “He’s doing his residency there.
“I was planning to go in March. Now, I have to leave things. I’m hoping it will be better by then.”
Over the weekend, several hundred travellers were told they were not permitted to board a plane headed for the U.S., or found themselves stranded in American airports upon arrival.
Syed said many association members, including those with full Canadian citizenship, used to cross the border daily.
Now, “they’re scared. They don’t want to go. They don’t know what will happen.”
Trump’s order spurred a rally at the Peace Arch border Sunday. Organized by a group of Americans in Washington State, it drew close to 1,000 protesters to the crossing. They gathered near the Peace Arch monument and along the roadway, many carrying signs condemning the new U.S. president and his order, and supporting refugees and immigrants to the U.S.
While most were American, a number of protesters were from north of the border, displaying Canadian flags and carrying signs welcoming refugees and travellers from the banned nations.
Erika Steyn and Michael Airtom said they drove from Coquitlam to participate, after learning about the rally on Facebook.
Steyn, who was refused entry when she immigrated from South Africa, said the couple came out because she remembered how that felt. The thought of others being turned away “is so upsetting,” she said.
Airtom said people are feeling the need to vent, to “have some way of demonstrating that what’s going on is not OK.”
“There seems to be this negative tide sweeping the world at the moment,” he said. “I don’t know where it’s going to go, but at least we can say we did something.”
Many drivers sounded their horns and waved in support of the protesters, who chanted “no ban, no wall,” “no hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” and “your hands are too small to build a wall,” while motorists travelled in both directions across the border.
Bellingham’s Mikkel Hong, who started several of the chants, said he “just came here to say America is not a country where we’ve ever succeeded by narrowing the scope of who’s American.”
The office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday that the executive order would not affect Canadians who are dual-citizens, and on Sunday morning said all Canadian permanent residents would not be affected.
Syed described the response as “very comforting.”
He said WRMA members will join a second rally planned by a Canadian group for Sunday at Peace Arch Park.
‘No Ban, No Wall - Vancouver’ is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 5, and is touted as “peaceful, joyful, inclusive, legal and safe for all.”
Syed said members planning to attend are not worried about venturing near the border.
“We don’t feel that scared in Canada,” he said. “This side, we are at home.”
– with files from Rick Kupchuk & Gord Goble