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       Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh
        
 (HTM) Source
        
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       An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on
       Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the
       Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
        
       Sarah Jama was "named" by House Speaker Ted Arnott for donning the
       black-and-white checkered scarf, which has become synonymous with
       Palestinian solidarity, meaning she cannot vote on matters before the
       house for the remainder of the day.
        
       Jama left the legislative chamber, as did NDP MPPs Joel Harden and
       Kristyn Wong-Tam, who also donned the scarves in solidarity with the
       Independent representative for Hamilton Centre.
        
       Jama was asked to leave the chamber last month as well for wearing the
       garment, but refused.
        
       The ban, announced by Arnott last month after he concluded it had come
       to represent a political statememnt, was loosened prior to question
       period and Jama's removal. Now, the Speaker says the ban only applies
       in the chamber and not throughout Queen's Park.
        
       "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."
        
       Speaking to reporters outside of the chamber, Jama said she will
       continue to wear the garment, despite the ban.
        
       "We've decided to wear the keffiyeh today to stand in solidarity with
       all the Palestinians who have been displaced, about 1.6 million, from
       their homes," she said. "Wearing the keffiyeh, especially in the midst
       of the keffiyeh ban being reversed in the rest of this building, shows
       that there was no merit to this ban in the first place."
        
       Leaders of all four political parties, including Premier Doug Ford,
       have called for the ban's reversal and the NDP has tried twice to get
       unanimous consent to allow members to wear the scarf, both of which
       were unsuccessful due to a handful of dissenting Progressive
       Conservative members.
        
       On Monday, NDP Leader Marit Stiles called on Ford to "do what's right"
       and put the matter to a formal vote. If that request fails, Stiles
       said her party would hold what's known as an Opposition Day motion
       next week, which could pass with a simple majority.
        
        
        
        
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