A group of about 200 people protested outside the Royal York Hotel Sunday evening, where Immigration Minister Jason Kenney was being awarded an honorary degree.

Following a rally at David Pecaut Square, the protesters marched through streets, blocking traffic and ending up outside the hotel at about 5 p.m. More than 40 groups, including No One Is Illegal and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, were involved in the protest.

Signs and chants took issue with federal immigration and refugee policy, which protesters called “exclusionary” and “racist.”

“Anti-racism is part of all of our mandates,” said organizer Deb Singh, of the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, adding a peaceful protest was planned.

Protesters crowded outside the hotel for hours, partially blocking the intersection at York and Front streets, part of which was already shut down by construction.

“Hey hey, ho ho, deportation has got to go,” were among chants people shouted in front of the hotel’s entrances, where police officers and security kept watch.

Toronto police Staff Sgt. Greg Thorpe said he wasn’t aware of any arrests related to the protest.

The honorary PhD that Kenney received was from Israel's Haifa University, which said in a statement that he has been a leader in “combating all forms of antisemitism and standing up for Israel on the world stage.”

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