Locke Street attack labelled ‘terrorism’

Coun. Skelly’s motion condemns vandalism

City councillors have voted to formally condemn the recent mob vandalism on Locke Street — with some going so far as to label it “gang” violence or “terrorism.”

The symbolic motion from Coun. Donna Skelly also called on councillors to take “an unwavering stand” against all violence and vandalism allegedly linked to anarchists in the downtown and elsewhere in the city.

A followup motion from Coun. Matthew Green asked for all city BIAs to be informed about recent grant program changes that allow business owners to access municipal cash to fix broken windows and facade damage caused by vandalism.

The motions come days after a mob of around 30 masked, blackclad people marched down Locke Street South at night lobbing rocks through business and car windows as well as setting off fireworks and smoke bombs.

Police have not yet made any arrests but recently announced they have evidence linking the crimes to a weekend anarchist book fair at Westdale High School.

Outraged councillors all spoke out against the unknown window-smashers.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger called them “terrorists” while Coun. Terry Whitehead mused about police designating local anarchists “as a gang.” He said he’d ask police brass about the possibility at a board meeting.

An anonymous poster on a Facebook site linked to Hamilton anarchist space The Tower recently said the local collective supports — but did not organize — the Locke Street vandalism spree. “The ongoing effects of gentrification in this city are heartbreaking — waves of displacement, growing violence, and intensifying poverty, “the post reads, later adding, “We have zero tears to shed for Locke Street.”

Coun. Sam Merulla noted politically motivated property damage has plagued the entire lower city for several years. Incidents range from gentrification protesters who shoved and intimidated a busload of “Try Hamilton” investors in 2016 to a vandalism spree on Barton Street and downtown last summer to graffiti reported as recently as Monday on Ottawa Street.

Eisenberger acknowledged the city still has work to do to help residents “struggling” with Hamilton’s fast-moving redevelopment. But he also argued the city is working toward new affordable housing with efforts ranging from a $50-million anti-poverty plan to the sale of city parking lots for housing to a slew of new mixed-incomes development proposals.

“We don’t need terrorists running up and down the street, terrorizing people, potentially hurting people and damaging property ... to try to make that point. We get it.”