Australian National Review – Annual ‘1 Million March’ rallies across Canada demand parental rights

Several demonstrations were held in major cities across Canada, including the country’s capital, as part of the second “1 Million March for Children” event, advocating for parental rights.

Pickering City Councillor Lisa Robinson, who attended the Sept. 20 event in Toronto, said many parents are upset about the sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) material being taught in schools and feel they should have a say in their children’s upbringing.

“They shouldn’t be told to keep secrets from their parents at school. That’s wrong,” Robinson told The Epoch Times. “The family should be the first and foremost caregiver for their children, and that’s why I’m here today speaking.”

Pickering City Councilwoman Lisa Robinson attends the "1 Million March for Children" Parental rights demonstration in Queen's Park, Toronto, on September 20, 2024. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times) — Pickering City Councillor Lisa Robinson attends the “1 Million March for Children” parent rights rally in Queen’s Park, Toronto, on September 20, 2024. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

The police form a barrier between the visitors of the "1 Million March for Children" Parental rights demonstration and counterprotests in Queen's Park, Toronto, on September 20, 2024. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times) — Police form a barrier between participants in the “1 Million March for Children” parental rights march and counter-protesters in Queen’s Park, Toronto, on September 20, 2024. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

Similar parental rights protests were organized in 44 locations across the country by the group Hands Off Our Kids, including on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. This is the second annual protest, following last year’s events that saw thousands of people take to the streets to demand parental rights and oppose SOGI materials being taught in schools.

In Ottawa, parental rights protesters gathered on Parliament Hill, holding signs reading “SOGI 123 = Sexual Exploitation” and “Leave the Children Alone.”

Counter-protesters also showed up at the demonstrations, carrying rainbow and transgender flags and signs reading: “Trans children are children, protect us.”

Counter-protesters demonstrate in Ottawa on September 20, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby) — Counter-protesters demonstrate in Ottawa on September 20, 2024. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby

There were also occasional clashes between the two groups.

The Epoch Times witnessed one such encounter at a rally in Toronto, where two counter-protesters tried to grab a banner from an attendee. A brief fight ensued over the banner.

An attendee (L, dressed in black) at a parental rights rally said someone grabbed his banner, causing him to chase after them. The two eventually ended up wrestling on the ground over the banner during the "1 Million March for Children" event in Queen's Park, Toronto, on September 20, 2024. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times) — An attendee (L, dressed in black) at a parental rights protest said someone grabbed his banner, causing him to chase after them. The two got into a fight on the ground over the banner during the “1 Million March for Children” event in Queen’s Park, Toronto, on September 20, 2024. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

‘Let’s go back to math, science and English’

Kareem Tadros, a Mississauga resident and father of an 11-year-old girl, expressed concern about SOGI material appearing in his daughter’s homework as early as third grade. He noted that such material was also found in kindergarten classrooms, even when no transgender children were enrolled.

Tadros noted that SOGI was originally introduced as a guideline or resource for teachers, but has since become deeply integrated into the classroom. He added that many classrooms in Canada now display a pride flag, which he believes is unrelated to academic instruction and undermines the neutrality of the classroom as a learning space.

“SOGI has become embedded in the classroom and it is very clear that it is a political move. It has nothing to do with education,” he said. “We are asking for all politics to be taken out of the classroom. Let’s go back to math, science and English.”

“Let’s start fixing real academia before we stuff our children’s brains with ideologies and politics,” he added.

Kareem Tadros, organizer of the "1 Million March for Children" A parental rights demonstration was held in Toronto's Queen's Park on September 20, 2024. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times) — Kareem Tadros, organizer of the parental rights demonstration “1 Million March for Children,” was seen in Queen’s Park, Toronto on September 20, 2024. Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

Tadros noted that there are other organizations that don’t fall directly under the same umbrella as Hands Off Our Kids that have organized similar protests for parental rights. He added that last year’s movement saw simultaneous demonstrations in several other countries, including the United States, Belgium, and Lebanon, while this year the Netherlands is known to be holding a similar protest on the same day as Canada.

Last year, several provinces, including Alberta, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, changed their policies for student pronouns and parental consent in schools. Before the change, schools were not required to inform parents if a child wanted to change his or her name or pronouns.