Background
We have some Transgender anarchists in Hamilton, the Pink Bloc.
Some time ago, some anarchists from somewhere were in town for the Anarchist book fair, did a run through a gentrifying area, broke some windows, frightened some people, ran away.
One local TransAnarchist was later arrested for 'counselling to commit crime x', I believe, did a bit of time, now on probation.
Yellow Vests/white supremacist rallies
Every week now, the racists and homophobes get a permit from the City and rally at City Hall, some local and more out of town hate groups (Sons of Odin, 3%, etc., militant groups) with anti-immigrant signs and some spewing homophobic slurs ... at the TransAnarchists who protest their presence. A couple of arrests, 1 each side.
Hamilton Pride June 15 2019
Pride is an afternoon, family friendly celebration in a park.
- Police asked Pride if they could put a recruitment booth at Pride Fest. That was denied, and they were also told not to come to Pride Fest in uniform.
- For several years, 'religious' bigots with 12' signs have disrupted and disturbed Pride participants.
- This year the bigots were joined by the white supremacists, who arrived from City Hall along with police.
- This year, TransAnarchists held up a huge black curtain to hide the religious bigots' disgusting signs, so Pride goers could celebrate in peace.
It worked. Pride Fest went on peacefully, the Pink Bloc and friends held the line for an hour, while being physically attacked, violently assaulted by the racist homophobes and religious bigots. Three women were smashed in the face, a teenager's nose was broken by a white supremacist wielding a helmet. Another was being brutally kicked in the head when he was down, an elder woman threw down her cane and dropped on top of him to protect him from more kicks to the head.
HAMILTON POLICE STOOD BACK WATCHING ASSAULT HATE CRIMES, AND DID NOTHING.- Approached for help, one police officer said
"Remember, we weren't invited to Pride. We're just standing here. Not my problem."-
Following the event, Pride organizers issued a statement citing "longstanding issues between the 2SLGBTQIA+ community" and police.
"It took far too long for police to respond to the escalating situation created by the protestors," according to the statement.- The Chief of Police admitted that they stood back and took no action against the violent hate groups because Police weren't invited to Pride:
"
Keeping mind the context here. We were not invited to the event," he explained. "We were asked not to be at the event and we remained on the perimeter."
The chief noted the service's request to have a recruitment booth at Pride was denied.
He also said the decision to keep officers to the outer edge of the park was intentional.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/girt-pride-protest-1.5182014- The Mayor mouthed pathetic support for police standdown "because they weren't invited to Pride". Then he finally shut up due to massive public outcry against the police and him.
- No violent white supremacists have been arrested. Lots of video available, showing clearly that they were the aggressors and Pride folk were defending 'the black wall', defending others being attacked, and defending themselves from attacks.
** The police are now arresting TransAnarchists.
Thud.- When asked why no racist homophobe aggressors are being arrested, the police complain that no victims have come forward. Who the hell would? Police will just find an excuse to arrest them!
Meanwhile they continue to arrest the TransAnarchists and friends who took the blows and protected Pride Fest from disruption. Except the one arrested who wasn't even there due to probation conditions, but did later attend a meeting at City Hall and called for the Chief's resignation ... then got arrested.
The two most violent racist homophobes creeps, still on the loose, were in Toronto this past weekend, assaulting people in the Eaton's Centre.
Where were the Toronto police?!--> The Hamilton police inaction was not impartial, a
biased police response, a punitive measure due to the Police Chief's hissy fit about not being "invited" to Pride, and clearly also due to the police vendetta against the local TransAnarchists.
It also appeared to be biased by police enjoyment of watching neo-Nazis assault TransAnarchists. Sick.
Some of the (gay and other) officers who finally herded the exhausted white supremacists out of the Park must have been ashamed of their Chief that day ... but they still followed his biased and improper orders.
It's quite disturbing that the
Police Chief showed no awareness that he can't withhold service because he wasn't 'invited' to the party. Those are two entirely different things.
CBC Hamilton did a fine job of reporting, exposing that bias clearly. He fell right in their trap ... because he still doesn't get it.
As someone said ... Does the Fire Dept refuse to put out your fire because you didn't invite them to the birthday party?