New Democrat MPP Jill Andrew was kicked out of the Ontario legislature on Wednesday for wearing a keffiyeh and Canadians have mixed reactions to the move.
This comes after independent MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the house last month for the same reason. The keffiyeh is a black and white scarf traditionally worn in support of Palestine. It was banned last month by Speaker Ted Arnott over concerns that wearing one made an overtly political statement.
Keffiyehs have become a common symbol of solidarity at pro-Palestinian rallies, since the war between Hamas and Israel began on Oct. 7.
Andrew, who is the MPP for Toronto-St. Paul’s, was ejected from the chamber after refusing to remove her scarf. In addition to the keffiyeh, the politician also donned a tallit, a Jewish prayer shawl gifted to her by a Jewish constituent.
“These groups of people (referring to Palestinians in Gaza) are inextricably linked. Their civil rights, their right to freedom, their right to peace is inextricably linked and as I said, quoting the words of Rabbi Hasim,” she said to reporters on Wednesday.
“…We have to pray with our feet, he prayed with his feet and I am praying with my feet and I am standing for culture. In that legislature, in those chambers, when we have the privilege that only a handful of Ontarians do, we better stand for what’s right,” she continued.
NDP MPPs Kristyn Wong-Tam and Joel Harden also left the chamber in solidarity. The two were also seen wearing keffiyehs in parliament on Monday.
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On Monday, the speaker loosened his rules on the keffiyeh ban and has since allowed MPPs and visitors to wear them in the building but not in the chamber itself.
“It has been our standard practice, again for many decades, to ask those who seek to enter the [legislative] assembly not to wear any attire which appears to be intended to make a political statement of any sort. This is intended to promote order and decorum and mostly has had the desired effect through the years,” Arnott said Monday.
“But in this case, which unfortunately became politicized, it has instead fostered division and discord both in this House and in our communities in the province,” he continued.
Online, Canadians are sharing their mixed reactions to the move.
“Jill Andrew is consistently the true voice of progressives. Always on the right side with her voice and her actions. Just an outstanding member and the leadership candidate we all hoped for,” one X user said.
“Oh @JILLSLASTWORD, you inspire and move me! Jill is one of the most dedicated and progressive politicians I’ve ever met – she wears her heart on her sleeve in hopes others learn how to do the same,” another user said.
“@JILLSLASTWORD stands for what’s right.1200 innocents slaughtered on their own soil. Men women and children taken from their homes or desecrated and burned were found. Women sexually abused, sexually mutilated, raped, kidnapped, murdered. Some culture to stand for,” another user commented.
Meanwhile, other online users do not agree with her defying the rules and wearing the scarf in the chamber.
“It’s selfish to put your own personal crusade before the responsibility to represent your constituents in the legislature. Stop postering for cheap political points on an international issue, when you can help with housing, affordability, education, healthcare, transit,” one user said.
“Enough already! Wasting everyone’s time disrupting with these foolish disruptive antics,” another user said.
“She’s making it political, this is why she is getting kicked out. She cares more about a piece of cloth than the riding she is supposed to represent,” another user commented.
