Nigerian-Canadian journalist and community leader Chief Olufemi Shodunke staged a one-man protest outside a courthouse and along Franklin Avenue in Fort McMurray, Alberta, on Friday, August 7, 2026, calling attention to what Chief Olufemi Shodunke described as alleged anti-Black racism within Alberta’s justice system and wider Canadian institutions.

The Olufemi Shodunke protest brought a personal grievance into the public space, with the veteran journalist carrying a placard that read, “Stop anti-black racism in Alberta & Canada’s justice system.”

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Dressed in a flowing Nigerian agbada and traditional chieftaincy beads, Shodunke said the demonstration was intended both to challenge what he described as discriminatory treatment and to sensitise residents about concerns he has raised with government authorities.

“Definitely, I am just protesting today against anti-Black racism within the justice system in Alberta and in Canada,” Shodunke said.

“I am doing this because I have experienced it and I am still experiencing it.”

Shodunke said he had previously written to different levels of government about his concerns but had not received the response he expected.

The journalist said his campaign was based partly on personal experiences and those of other people, while acknowledging that some of the matters he intends to discuss remain before the courts.

“There is anti-Black racism within the justice system. I know what I am talking about. I have pieces of evidence to support this,” he said.

The allegations have not been established as findings against the Canadian justice system. Publicly available court records do, however, confirm that Shodunke is involved in ongoing litigation involving the King in Right of Alberta and the Attorney General of Canada.

The Supreme Court of Canada lists an application for leave to appeal filed by Shodunke in February 2026.

The legal history also provides important context to Shodunke’s concerns.

In a 2025 Alberta Human Rights Tribunal matter involving his former employer, Paladin Security Group Ltd., a complaint alleging discrimination was dismissed after the tribunal found that the evidence did not establish a human rights violation.

The tribunal subsequently ordered Shodunke to pay CA$25,000 in costs, citing what it described as improper conduct during the proceedings.

Shodunke’s latest protest is therefore unfolding alongside ongoing legal proceedings, rather than as a substitute for the judicial process.

The journalist said he intended to provide a fuller account of his allegations at a later stage, particularly where legal restrictions allow.

The protest also reflected a longer campaign by Shodunke against racial discrimination.

In 2020, following the killing of George Floyd in the United States, Shodunke participated in a Black Lives Matter-related demonstration in Alberta and publicly called for stronger action against racism and systemic discrimination.

In September 2025, Shodunke again wrote publicly about racism and discrimination in Canada, arguing that decision-makers across society should avoid allowing race, colour or place of origin to influence how people are treated.

During Friday’s demonstration, Shodunke also recalled an alleged exchange with an elderly White man who, according to Shodunke, shouted from a light-green car, “That is what you paid for by coming here.”

Shodunke said he ignored the remark and continued his protest, noting that other members of the community had expressed support for his efforts.

For Shodunke, the wider issue goes beyond a particular case or individual decision. He called for equal treatment under Canadian law and urged greater respect for the country’s diverse cultural and religious communities.

“Justice is for everybody; we are all equal in this country,” he said.

Shodunke described Canada as a country shaped by immigration and argued that equality should extend to people of different racial, cultural and religious backgrounds.

“We want equality in this country,” he said.

The protest comes as Canada’s institutions continue to face wider public discussions about racial equity, discrimination and access to justice.

Shodunke’s intervention adds a personal and highly visible voice to that conversation, although his allegations remain his own claims and must be distinguished from findings established by a court or tribunal.

For now, Shodunke says the campaign will continue.

He has indicated that he intends to pursue his concerns through appropriate legal channels while using public advocacy to draw attention to what he considers a serious problem.

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His message from Fort McMurray was ultimately simple: equality before the law should not depend on race, background or status, and concerns about discrimination should be addressed through both public scrutiny and due process.