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A Windsor security guard was fired after refusing a woman entry to a St. Clair College building because she was wearing a keffiyeh, a black-and-white scarf symbolizing Palestinian identity and solidarity.
A 22-second video shared on social media shows the male security guard telling the woman to leave the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts in downtown Windsor. In the video, the woman asks if she is being denied entry due to her keffiyeh. The guard replies, “The scarf? I know what it means. You’re not allowed in here.”
The woman questions, “I can’t check if my friend is in the bathroom because I’m wearing a keffiyeh?” The guard responds affirmatively and tells her to close the door.
The incident happened after hours, according to a St. Clair College statement on Wednesday. The college quickly issued an apology and shared the same statement with the Windsor Star.
“This does not represent the values or policies of St. Clair College,” said John Fairley, the college’s vice-president of communications and community relations. “We addressed our concerns with Paladin Security, who resolved the issue with the employee.”
Paladin Security also apologized to the affected individual and immediately terminated the security guard. “We do not condone this behavior,” said Christina Heydanus, Paladin Security’s communications manager. “Diversity and respect are core values for us, and we will work to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Jana Alrifai, co-organizer of a protest encampment at the University of Windsor, called the incident “simple anti-Palestinian racism.” She stated that such discrimination is not unique and happens elsewhere. “This one just happened to be on camera. Palestinian racism is alive and well.”
Alrifai explained that the keffiyeh is an important symbol of Palestinian culture and resistance. She criticized the notion that the keffiyeh is contentious, calling it an example of anti-Palestinian racism.
St. Clair College’s Fairley emphasized that the college has no policy against wearing a keffiyeh. “We have people who wear their headscarves daily, including employees and students.”
Alrifai believes more action is needed to prevent discrimination. “We can’t just fire somebody for what they’ve done. We have to make sure this doesn’t happen in the first place.”
