POLICE INVESTIGATE AFTER AN ELDERLY WOMAN USING A WALKER, WHO WAS ON HER WAY INTO AN EVENT FEATURING MAXIME BERNIER, IS CONFRONTED BY PROTESTERS SHOUTING, ‘NAZI SCUM, OFF OUR STREETS.’
Elderly woman blocked from entering event
HAMILTON, ONT. • Police are investigating after an elderly woman using a walker, who was on her way into an event featuring Maxime Bernier, was confronted by protesters shouting, “Nazi scum, off our streets.”
In a video widely circulating, the white-haired woman is walking over a crossing toward Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday when her way is barred by three masked protesters. The protesters continually shout at the woman and her elderly male companion.
“Hamilton police are aware of the incident involving a senior with a walker who was barred from entering the Maxime Bernier event by counter protesters,”
Hamilton Police spokesperson David Hennick wrote in an email.
Once police were aware of what was happening, officers intervened and escorted the couple into the venue.
The couple have not filed a complaint, he said, but police are still reviewing video evidence from the event, which could lead to potential charges.
Four people were arrested for breach of the peace and later released after a fight broke out near the entrance of a hall at Mohawk College where Bernier, leader of the
People’s Party of Canada, and
American political commentator Dave Rubin were holding a roundtable discussion on free speech and censorship.
Hennick said police are in the midst of reviewing the behaviour of those at the protest to determine if criminal charges need to be laid.
Bernier later posted a video of the elderly woman incident to his Twitter account saying, “These Antifa protesters are a small minority of violent thugs.”
Of the disturbances in general, Bernier told reporters, “For me, that was the first experience and I must admit that I didn’t like it. It’s not Canadian.
“These people didn’t take time to read our platform because what they were saying, it is not who we are and who I am as a politician, so that’s too bad that they didn’t want to have any discussion.
“We cannot debate when people don’t want to look at what you’re saying in reality.”
The college has faced criticism for allowing Bernier to rent the facility, with some accusing the institution of providing a platform for hate speech.
After threats of violence, the college increased security and Rubin said he covered the extra cost so the event could go ahead.
Mohawk College’s president has said the school is bound by a “government-mandated freedom of speech policy” that requires it to provide opportunities for anyone to voice their views.