From Christie Pits to Draw the Line: migrant justice in action
Over the past two weekends, I stood with community members at two powerful rallies – both deeply connected in their call for justice, dignity and belonging. As someone working in migrant justice, these moments remind me of why we do this work and why we cannot stop showing up.
September 13 – Christie Pits: Community Over Hate
At Christie Pits Park, families, students and organizers gathered for the community-led rally, No to Hate, Yes to Immigrants! The park – long a site of anti-fascist resistance – once again became a space where people affirmed that Toronto belongs to the people, not to hate.
The atmosphere was both festive and tense. The day began with speeches and music, weaving together stories of struggle and resilience. Children played games, volunteers shared food, and strangers sat together painting banners on the lawn. Elders spoke about anti-racism struggles and young people sang while others played – intergenerational energy at its best – even as groups promoting hate loomed nearby. This tension underscored a truth: defending community spaces is never risk-free.
What struck me most was how central migrants are to these struggles. Those who are most targeted by exclusion, criminalization and scapegoating are the very people sustaining the fabric of the community-sharing food, making art and building solidarity. This rally was not just about rejecting hate but about affirming that migrant lives and voices belong at the heart of this city and our collective future
September 20 – Draw the Line: A Cross-Country Day of Action
One week later, those same banners reappeared during the Draw the Line, a National Day of Action, connecting migrant justice to broader movements for Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice and anti-war resistance. In Toronto, I joined rally goers distributing fresh samosas with the Collaborative Network to End Exploitation (CNEE. What might seem like a simple act – sharing food – created warmth, brought smiles, sparked conversations and served as a reminder that care is political. The gathering also revealed the intersections of our struggles. David Suzuki presence underscored how inseparable climate justice is from migrant justice. Those displaced by ecological injustice are often the first to be denied rights and protections. Across the country, communities stood together to insist that migrants are not disposable but essential to building just and sustainable futures. It was powerful to see members of our team out in solidarity to affirm that justice requires us all.
Standing in Toronto that day, I felt the ripple of solidarity stretching far beyond the city.
Why These Rallies Matter
These back-to-back rallies affirmed a crucial reality – migrant justice is never a single-issue struggle. It is woven into every demand for justice – anti-racism, Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice, debt justice and housing and labour rights. To fight for migrant justice is to fight for a society where no one is left behind.
That is why I continue this work: pushing for pathways to permanent status, ending the exploitation of workers, supporting those displaced by climate and conflict and building communities of safety and dignity. From Christie Pits to Draw the Line, what I witnessed was more than a protest, it was solidarity in action, a living vision of the world we are trying to create.
The struggle continues and so does the joy, creativity and strength of our communities. To me that is what solidarity and people-centered movements look like.
By Leah Shifferaw, KAIROS’ Migrant Justice Team Lead
