Two arrested in duelling rallies

Anti-Islam and anti-hate groups protest in London

Anti-hate and anti-Islam protesters held largely peaceful duelling protests outside London city hall Saturday, though two people were taken away in handcuffs.

The rallies remained civil for the most part with anti-hate protesters outnumbering the anti-Islam group. The crowd, according to police at the scene, was around 500 people and expanded from the steps of city hall onto Dufferin Avenue.

After an argument started over opposing protesters accusing each other of spitting on people, police created a barrier around the antihate group with their bikes.

An anti-hate protester, Jeremy Larivee, said he was knocked to the ground after he was punched by a member of a group called The Three Percenters. The group is U.S.-based and was acting as security for Pegida Canada London, also known as Patriots of Canada Against the Islamization of the West.

The Three Percenters member was subsequently handcuffed and taken away by police.

“It’s going to take a lot more than that to take this old goat out,” Larivee said. “I’m going to stay here until this message needs to stop being spread.”

A second person was arrested, this time a counter-protester, as Pegida members began to leave city hall. The young woman, who identified herself as Bailey Lamon, was taken away in handcuffs by a group of police officers on foot and bicycles.

A woman who would not give her name to media, but said she was part of a group called Suffragettes Against Silence, said she was spit on by the woman under arrest.

Dan DuBois, who is the national president for the Canadian Combat Coalition, a group that says they vow to protect Canadian heritage, said they were there to stand with Pegida against illegal immigrants and Islam.

“We’re only trying to preserve what Canada is today,” DuBois said.

The anti-Islam protesters left the rally calmly and walked toward their cars, followed by a large number of anti-hate protesters who marched in a group behind them.

Aside from the two arrests, the protests remained peaceful and Mayor Matt Brown said he was proud of Londoners.

“I’m leaving here encouraged. The vast, vast majority of Londoners recognize there’s no place in London for racism or bigotry.”

DEREK RUTTAN Pegida Canada London supporter “Lynn” punches Bailey Lamon of Occupy London after Lamon allegedly spit in Lynn’s face during protests outside city hall in London on Saturday.