On Sunday August 30, 2020, Joel St. John and Elizabeth Ononiwu, an engaged couple, went to the Aga Khan Museum (AKM) in Toronto to have an engagement photoshoot. They were approached by AKM security and told that they cannot have a photoshoot without a permit from the museum, despite being surrounded by non-Black people having photoshoots nearby. When the couple pointed out that many others were having photoshoots without being harassed by security, they were told that those people had the “intelligence” to follow the rules. They were told that since they were using professional photo equipment, they were violating the rules of the museum; again, despite couples nearby using similar professional equipment. The security guards told them it was clear they were doing a professional photoshoot because they were wearing “costumes” -- referring to their traditional cultural attire. The security guards then called the police on them and told the police they were “misbehaving” and characterized their actions as aggressive and threatening. Police then escorted them out of the AKM grounds.

This racism and anti-Blackness on the part of the Aga Khan Museum ruined this couple’s engagement photoshoot. Calling the police on Black people at any time is a life-or-death situation; in this climate, when it is coming to public light that innocent Black people are being shot by the police, it is even more harmful.

Since the couple posted about their experience, there has been a lot of dialogue within the Ismaili community about the incident and anti-Blackness within our community. Many Ismailis were outraged about what happened and wanted to know what they could do to help. The Aga Khan Museum issued an apology, but words are not enough. We hope that you will turn this outrage into concrete action.

Ismaili Activists reached out to Joel St. John and offered to fundraise the amount that the couple paid the photographer to do the photoshoot, which they were unable to complete because of AKM’s anti-Blackness, and to donate the rest of the funds to Black-led organization(s) of their choice. They graciously said that they want us to donate all of the funds to Black-led organizations. The couple has chosen TAIBU Community Health Centre (@TAIBU_chc) and BRAVE Canada (@braveglobalcanada) as the organizations that they want to receive donations.

If you are outraged about this incident, please donate. If you are frustrated by the anti-Blackness within the Ismaili community, please donate. If you wish you could do something for this couple that received such awful treatment, please donate. The first step to repairing harm is to follow the wishes of the people that were harmed. This couple’s wishes were for the Ismaili community to donate to this organization.

100% of donations will evenly go to TAIBU Community Health Centre and BRAVE Canada, both Canadian Black-led organizations.