Library cancels drag event after protest at library event

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Calgary Public Library is suspending a drag storytime occasion at certainly one of its southwest libraries after an incident ultimately weekend’s occasion at Seton Library noticed an “aggressive” protest.

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The choice to postpone Saturday’s Studying with Royalty occasion at Southwood Library comes as Calgary police charged a neighborhood pastor with a hate crime in reference to the incident in Seton.

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Calgary Public Library mentioned it stays dedicated to its partnership with Calgary Pleasure and plans to reschedule the occasion as quickly as it may “present a protected and enjoyable setting for kids and households who want to attend.”

“The best to protest is prime to our democracy, however what occurred within the Seton library final weekend was not a protest. This was an organized, focused and intimidating disruption of a program in an area the place young children have been current,” Calgary Public Library mentioned in an announcement.

Homophobic and transphobic insults

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Based on Calgary police, officers attended the Seton Library round 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 25 to test on a deliberate protest in opposition to the library’s Studying with Royalty slumber storytime occasion. Officers have been known as to a library classroom for reviews that a number of folks had “aggressively” entered the area and yelled homophobic and transphobic slurs on the youngsters and fogeys, Calgary police mentioned in a information launch Friday.

“They scared the kids whereas inflicting a disturbance after which refused to go away,” the police mentioned.

Two of the bystanders helped library workers take away the people from the classroom whereas they waited for the police to reach. The protesters have been faraway from the library by police, whereas different officers remained to observe public security and accumulate extra proof.

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Studying with Royalty occasions have been hosted at Calgary libraries for greater than 5 years, and the Library mentioned it’s a common, family-friendly occasion that celebrates inclusion and creativeness by tales and songs.

Everybody concerned completes coaching, and the Library mentioned the suggestion that it isn’t a family-friendly occasion is “categorically unfaithful and rooted in misinformation and intolerance.”

“Our areas should stay free from intimidating and disruptive conduct meant to restrict freedom of thought or expression,” Calgary Public Library mentioned.

Pastor faces prices

After an investigation, Calgary police have charged Derek Scott Reimer, 36, of Calgary with what they’re calling a hate crime for the incident at Seton Library. He faces one depend of inflicting a disturbance and one depend of mischief.

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The Metropolis of Calgary introduced Friday that metropolis peace officers have additionally charged Reimer with six counts of harassment underneath the Public Conduct Bylaw.

The fees have been issued on a prolonged summons and every violation carries a fantastic of as much as $10,000 and, in default, as much as six months in jail, the town mentioned in a information launch.

Final spring, the town council permitted amendments to the ordinance to ban abusive conduct towards anybody due to age, race, sexual orientation, incapacity, gender id or gender expression.

“These amendments have been created as a transparent message that Calgary is a spot the place everybody ought to really feel welcome and protected, and free from harassment,” mentioned Ryan Pleckaitis, Chief of Group Requirements for the Metropolis of Calgary.

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The bylaw applies to all public areas within the metropolis.

Reimer, a pastor at Mission 7 Ministries, appeared briefly through video hyperlink Friday in Calgary provincial court docket, the place his lawyer, Ben Allison, indicated the preacher refused to signal a launch order as a result of it contained untenable situations.

Allison instructed Decide Brian Stevenson that it might be nearly not possible for his consumer to adjust to the situations that he haven’t any contact with members of the LGBTQ+ group and keep at the very least 500 meters away from any LGBTQ+ occasions.

Allison requested for Reimer’s case to return to court docket on Monday so he can focus on the phrases with the Crown. Within the meantime, Reimer will stay in custody on the Calgary Remand Centre.

Calgary police mentioned hate crimes are cognizable crimes similar to assault, theft, vandalism or some other crime, the place the offender is motivated by bias, prejudice or hatred in the direction of the non-public traits of the sufferer.

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Police marking an incident as hate-motivated doesn’t result in extra prices, however the proof is taken into account by the courts after an individual has been discovered responsible.

“If the decide decides throughout sentencing that hatred was a motivation for the offence, that is an aggravating issue that may contribute to the convict’s sentence,” the police mentioned.

Protests goal different Calgary drag occasions

Prior to now few weeks, Calgary has seen numerous protests at drag occasions and the postponement of LGBTQ+ performances through the Chinook Blast winter competition on account of threats of protest. Calgary police have additionally opened an investigation right into a video circulating of somebody burning a Pleasure flag exterior a northwest college.

Talking on-line after the incident at Seton Library, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek mentioned motion should be taken to face as much as “protesters who unfold vile lies and hate in public.”

“We’ve got artists being focused for weeks and now vitriol in entrance of kids on the library. These usually are not peaceable protests. That is hate. The type of hate we rallied in opposition to for therefore lengthy,” Gondek mentioned.

The mayor has promised that extra motion can be taken on the matter.

Investigators are asking anybody with details about the incident at Seton Library to contact the CPS non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or submit ideas anonymously by Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or calgarycrimestoppers.org.