Women's March On Washington 2017: What Happened To Canadians Trying To Attend Protest?

UPDATE: 2:05 p.m. EST — Singer Bruce Springsteen, who declined to take part in the inauguration festivities and played a secret goodbye concert for former President Barack Obama at the White House, called the Women's March the beginning of a "new American resistance."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., warned women "aren't going back to second-class citizenship."

Original story

Several Canadians heading for the Women’s March in Washington say they were turned away at the border.

"Upon arrival, we told the border patrol officer we're heading down to [Washington} and will be attending the Women's March and will be in [Washington] the day of the inauguration," Joseph Decunha told CNN Saturday.

Decunha said he was trying to cross the border Thursday at Champlain, New York, from St. Bernard de Lacolle, Quebec, accompanied by two Americans. He said they were subjected to a second inspection and asked if they were pro- or anti-Trump.

"We were honest and said we were anti-Trump and at that point, he engaged me directly in conversation because I assumed I was the only Canadian," he said.

He said the border guards used the term “silent disruption” as a reason for not allowing him to cross the border. The guard then allegedly told him if he had said he was pro-Trump, he would have been categorized as a tourist and allowed entry. He was then fingerprinted and photographed before being sent home, he said. His two companions were allowed to continue their journey.

Sasha Dyck told CNN she was part of a group of two French nationals and six Canadians headed for the march that also was denied entry at the same border crossing Thursday and warned if members tried to cross a second time they would be arrested.

"It was just a surprise. I usually think of the [U.S.] as open to diversity of ideas and opinions, but not this weekend," he said.

Dyck told the Guardian they were detained for two hours as their cars were searched and their cellphones inspected. They also were fingerprinted and photographed.

Dyck said he made the same journey to Washington in 2009 for Barack Obama’s inauguration.

“I couldn’t even get in for this one, whereas at the other one, the guy at the border literally gave me a high five when I came in and everybody was just like, ‘Welcome.’ The whole city was partying; nobody was there to protest Obama the first time,” he said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection refused to discuss the cases, citing privacy laws. More than 1 million individuals are admitted to the United States on a daily basis, the agency said, adding an average of 600 a day are turned away for various reasons, including national security concerns.

Women’s marches were held across Canada Saturday in solidarity with U.S. marches that attracted hundreds of thousands of protesters across the country. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated those who turned out, saying he was inspired by them.

As many as 8,000 people thronged downtown Ottawa, to send what organizers called a “clear message” that women’s rights are human rights.

President Donald Trump struck a conciliatory note Sunday after first reminding protesters he had been duly elected.