Thousands gather across the country to protest against Islamophobia

Thousandsof people have gatheredin downtown Toronto to protest againstIslamophobia in front of the U.S. consulate, with similardemonstrations taking placeacross the country in Montreal, Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver and across the Maritimes.

Organizers of the protest on Saturday say they want the Canadian government to condemn a controversial executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump that bans citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. That message was reflected on Saturday with protestersdrumming, chanting and holding signs to show their opposition to Trump's policies.

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On Friday in Seattle,U.S. District Judge JamesRobartordered a halt"on a nationwidebasis" toenforcement of the ban. In response, Trump said the temporary restraining order would be overturned.

Organizers of the protest said in a Facebook post thatthey want the repeal of the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, a 2004 pact that requires asylum-seekers to apply for refugee status in the first "safe" country in which they arrive.

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"Canada must end racist, anti-refugee, anti-black, Islamophobic exclusion of migrants and refugees," the post reads.

Organizers also said theywantto repeal federal legislation that they believe targets Muslims, including theZero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, a 2015 law aimed at preventing forced marriage, polygamyand "honour killings."

And they saidthey want an end to the federal system of immigration detention, which they say is imprisonment of migrants without charges or trial.

Global protests against Trump's travel ban

8 years ago

Duration 2:10

Crowds of demonstrators gathered in cities around the world to voice their opposition to the U.S. president's executive order

In Toronto, police closedUniversity Avenue fromDundasStreet West to Queen Street West for the demonstration.

Police also saidthey detained a man on Saturday who was shouting at the protesters, but he will be released later in the day without being charged. He was being held at Toronto Police Service's 52 Division.

"We detained him for his own safety," Const. Victor Kwongsaid.

Islamophobia refers to a hostility ordislike toward Muslims. Some say the word can be applied to attacks on Muslims as well.

The protest comes just under aweek after an attack on a mosque in Quebec City that left six people dead. The mosque reopened for prayers on Saturday, six days after the shooting.