A Somali-Canadian woman running for a city council seat is brushing off prejudiced messages scribbled on her campaign signs. Munira Abukar, who wears a purple headscarf in the photo on the campaign signs, tweeted images on Friday showing apparently racist messages scrawled on the signs. One has her face scribbled out and the words “Go Back Home” added.
Pulled this off of Martingrove and Dixon on our way back from the office. Aunty has told me there are more. pic.twitter.com/RruJcWq2GK
— Munira for Ward 2 (@MuniraAbukar) October 11, 2014
Her social media post generated a torrent of supporters, many using the hashtag #IStandWithMunira.
This election has really brought out Toronto's uglier side but seeing all the support on Twitter with #IStandWithMunira keeps me hopeful.
— Joyita Sengupta (@Joyita_Sengupta) October 12, 2014
@MuniraAbukar don't listen to the the haters, stay strong #IStandWithMunira #TOpoli
— Lisa Duncan (@penkill) October 12, 2014
Abukar says she’s proud of how Torontonians have reacted to the vandalism, adding that their support outweighs anything someone can scribble on a sign in the middle of the night.
The 22-year-old Ryerson University criminology graduate sits on the board of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and looks up to June Callwood and Romeo Dallaire, according to her campaign website.
She is running in Ward 2 in Etobicoke, where she faces more than a dozen other candidates, including Mayor Rob Ford.
