Be careful, this story contains offensive language.
Two public officials in the Niagara region were the target of apparently anti-vaccine or anti-COVID protesters on Tuesday night.
St. Catharines Councilor Karrie Porter said she received a message from a concerned neighbor on Wednesday morning about hate spray-painted on the side of her house.
She shared images of the social media posts on Wednesday, calling them a “pathetic display of cowardice and weakness.”
The derogatory remarks included “Fk you Marxist B —- h” and “uniformity of nonconformity”.
“I don’t live alone. I have kids, I have a husband and I have neighbors; and before people do something like this again, they really have to think about it,” Porter later told CBC News.
Elsewhere, earlier Tuesday evening, the residence of Niagara’s medical officer of health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, was also the target of a protest.
A group of protesters gathered outside Hirji’s house on Tuesday evening, in what at least one protester, who claimed to be present, said on social media was an attempt to answer their “ignored questions.”
Niagara Regional Police Service (SNRP) officers said they were called to the scene at 7:30 p.m. and arrived to see about 14 people involved in a protest, they told CBC on Wednesday.
Police said no charges had been laid in connection with the protest. There are no laws that prohibit demonstrating at an individual’s personal home, police said, but a protest would cross the line if it spanned the private property of a residence and people entered it. .
“The NRPS is monitoring the situation closely, while balancing charter issues and public safety concerns. The role of the police is to ensure continued public safety and to preserve the peace. We recognize that the protests and demonstrations can be frustrating for the community as a whole, ”they said.
“The Service has and continues to review case law and seek legal advice with respect to the Canadian Charter of Rights … The Service is also very sensitive to the concerns of and has had direct contact with public servants and public servants. to ensure their safety as well. “
In a video on Instagram, the person who claimed to be part of the protest said it “could not have been more respectful” as the group stayed away from Hirji’s property, arrived after the dinner time and, they said, only stayed once. hour because they wanted to be attentive to the bedtime of the children in the neighborhood.
Videos show the use of flashlights and megaphones pointed at Hirji’s house, in an attempt to get him outside to answer questions.
Hirji responded to CBC News saying he had no comment at this time.
“It crossed the line”
Porter, meanwhile, said she was no stranger to the protest, but that there is a more effective and appropriate way to have a conversation than to vandalize someone’s home.
“As a city councilor, I’m here to listen, I’m here to have disagreements. In fact, I love political debates and discussions, and I encourage that, but it has crossed the line,” said Carry.
She said she was grateful to have been informed by a neighbor via a photo sent to her phone, rather than having her children see her before she knew it.
To advise @karrieporter I admire your strength in the face of bullying. No wonder you are a strong supporter of your constituents. #Niagara friends, this must stop happening to our public representatives. What we say matters. What we don’t say matters more. https://t.co/N6ZqjKUrbA
Numerous messages of support for Porter were shared online following his tweets on Wednesday.
Porter said the support will be important to share with her children.
“I will show my kids all the messages later today, I think it’s important for them to see the solidarity messages to understand that this was a cowardly act of maybe one or two. people, working in isolation, who try to intimidate me and intimidate politicians and create a climate of fear, ”Porter said. “We have to show our children that this will not actually work.”
The Niagara Regional Police Service has confirmed that an investigation into the nighttime vandalism at Porter’s home is currently underway, but provided no further information.
Porter said police told him that a forensic unit would be dispatched to his home for further graffiti analysis.
“People are really struggling right now, and I understand that,” Porter said.
“We have to deal with a lot of emotions right now and political disagreements, but this is not the way to go.”
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