Toronto Blue Jays must fire Anthony Santander
The Issue
Dear Toronto Blue Jays,
I have been a fan my entire life. I attended my first baseball game at the SkyDome when I was only 3 years old. I grew up with the great Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar as my idols. I still have the bookmark with Joe Carter's autograph on it from when he spoke at our school when I was in grade 5. Until now, I have always been proud of my team.
It is a disgrace that Toronto Blue Jay Anthony Santander has shared hateful imagery and videos on his Instagram. They are not generic hate. He has shared targeted Islamophobic hate. Toronto has a large Muslim population of active citizens, professionals, volunteers, and philanthropists. Canada has had a Muslim population for ages, and the muslim community has helped build this country.
In Canada, Islamophobia is not a vague fear. It is a potent hatred that has been deadly. There was a mass shooting at a Quebec mosque that killed 6 and injured 5 more. The effect was even wider, as the entire community across the country remains gripped by fear and mourning. In London, Ontario, Our London Family, Salman Afzaal (46), Madiha Salman (44), Yumnah Afzaal (15), and Talat Afzaal (74) were killed in broad daylight by a white supremacist while they were out for a family walk. The violence continues to this day, with attacks largely on Muslim women who wear hijab. A symbol of faith is also a target.
When public figures like Anthony Santander spread hate, it's not the same as just any old citizen posting a meme. He has a huge platform. And he represents your organization. Anthony Santander is a representative of the Toronto Blue Jays both on and off the field. Is this what the Toronto Blue Jays represent?
Anthony Santander is not even useful as a player. In exchange for his $92.5 million contract, Anthony Santander has only played 59 games for the franchise. He did not even play well. He has a 0.175 batting average. He is hardly value for money.
In a city that celebrates diversity and depends on all communities to work together, continuing to support this man makes no sense. Anthony Santander truly believes the hate that he spreads. A review of his Instagram account shows that he follows many Trump and MAGA accounts. Even if Anthony Santander deletes his posts, he can't delete his negative impact.
The Toronto Blue Jays issued a statement that is wholly insufficient and refuses to name the hate for what it is: targeted, intentional Islamophobia.
The Toronto Blue Jays must apologize and fire Anthony Santander immediately.
As a citizen who was born and raised in Toronto, a lifelong fan of the Blue Jays, and the reining Ms Toronto 2026, I call upon the Toronto Blue Jays to do the right thing and apologize to the Muslim community and fire Anthony Santander.
There is no public statement alone that will fix this. Action must be taken to show that the Toronto Blue Jays do not support and pay for hate.
Sincerely,
Aziza F. Mohammed
Executive Director, Civic AI Canada
Ms Toronto 2026
16
The Issue
Dear Toronto Blue Jays,
I have been a fan my entire life. I attended my first baseball game at the SkyDome when I was only 3 years old. I grew up with the great Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar as my idols. I still have the bookmark with Joe Carter's autograph on it from when he spoke at our school when I was in grade 5. Until now, I have always been proud of my team.
It is a disgrace that Toronto Blue Jay Anthony Santander has shared hateful imagery and videos on his Instagram. They are not generic hate. He has shared targeted Islamophobic hate. Toronto has a large Muslim population of active citizens, professionals, volunteers, and philanthropists. Canada has had a Muslim population for ages, and the muslim community has helped build this country.
In Canada, Islamophobia is not a vague fear. It is a potent hatred that has been deadly. There was a mass shooting at a Quebec mosque that killed 6 and injured 5 more. The effect was even wider, as the entire community across the country remains gripped by fear and mourning. In London, Ontario, Our London Family, Salman Afzaal (46), Madiha Salman (44), Yumnah Afzaal (15), and Talat Afzaal (74) were killed in broad daylight by a white supremacist while they were out for a family walk. The violence continues to this day, with attacks largely on Muslim women who wear hijab. A symbol of faith is also a target.
When public figures like Anthony Santander spread hate, it's not the same as just any old citizen posting a meme. He has a huge platform. And he represents your organization. Anthony Santander is a representative of the Toronto Blue Jays both on and off the field. Is this what the Toronto Blue Jays represent?
Anthony Santander is not even useful as a player. In exchange for his $92.5 million contract, Anthony Santander has only played 59 games for the franchise. He did not even play well. He has a 0.175 batting average. He is hardly value for money.
In a city that celebrates diversity and depends on all communities to work together, continuing to support this man makes no sense. Anthony Santander truly believes the hate that he spreads. A review of his Instagram account shows that he follows many Trump and MAGA accounts. Even if Anthony Santander deletes his posts, he can't delete his negative impact.
The Toronto Blue Jays issued a statement that is wholly insufficient and refuses to name the hate for what it is: targeted, intentional Islamophobia.
The Toronto Blue Jays must apologize and fire Anthony Santander immediately.
As a citizen who was born and raised in Toronto, a lifelong fan of the Blue Jays, and the reining Ms Toronto 2026, I call upon the Toronto Blue Jays to do the right thing and apologize to the Muslim community and fire Anthony Santander.
There is no public statement alone that will fix this. Action must be taken to show that the Toronto Blue Jays do not support and pay for hate.
Sincerely,
Aziza F. Mohammed
Executive Director, Civic AI Canada
Ms Toronto 2026
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on November 7, 2026