M1, rapper with Dead Prez, denied entry at Montreal airport

MutuluOlugbala, otherwise known asM1from political rap duo DeadPrez, was turned away by Canada Border Services Agency late Friday nightin an incident he attributed to "racial profiling."

• Watch M1'svideo to fans below

M1 was scheduled to appear at an event held by FRO Foundation on Jan. 31 at La Grande Bibliothque in downtown Montreal. The event was meant to kick off the FRO Festival's Black History Month activities.

"I'm here today to report to you that I have been denied entry into Canada because of their miscellaneous policies which I can sometimes attribute to racial profiling,"M1said in asmartphonevideo he recorded at the Montreal airport on Saturday morning.

The rappersaid he was "livid" at CBSA's "inconsistent policies."

FRO Foundation co-founder BerekYah Yergeau said she didn't know the exact circumstances surrounding M1's border denial.

She said to her knowledge M1 may have hadan infraction on his criminal record dating back to 2006. However, she said, he had successfullymade it into Canada on several occasions since then.

Additionally, Yergeau said she did not arrange for a work visa for M1 because he was donating his time for free to the FRO Foundation.

M1 still participated inSaturday evening's event at the library via Skype.

CBSAsaid it could not comment on the details ofM1'srefusal of entry at Montreal's Trudeau airport, citingprivacy concerns.

However,spokeswoman JacquelineRobydid offer a general statement, part of which is below:

Admissibility of alltravellersis decided on a case-by-case basis and based on the information made available at the time of entry.

Several factors are used in determining admissibility into Canada, including involvement in criminal activity, in human rights violations, in organized crime, security, health or financial reasons.

The assessment of travellers is solely based on the legislation. Every year we welcome millions oftravellers from every race and religion and from all parts of the world.

• M1's message to fans after being denied entry into Canada