The monarchy represents inequality, class division and a history of slavery, say three permanent residents of Canada who appeared in an Ontario court Friday to challenge the citizenship oath’s mandatory declaration of allegiance to the Queen.

“The idea we’re being asked to swear allegiance to an … offshore Queen — I just couldn’t do it,” said Michael McAteer, an applicant in the Citizenship Act challenge. “[The monarchy] is the antithesis of everything I see a democracy should be.”