A civic group was formed after a meeting of the Ontario City Council in which a man accused of stealing Pride flags was allowed to speak for 30 minutes and “vomit hatred” from the gay community.
Jacob (Jake) Day, who runs an agricultural machinery store in Tilsonberg, Ont., Was charged with theft after the Pride flags in the Norwich farming community were removed. On Tuesday, the 47-year-old businessman addressed the Norwich City Council for half an hour in a speech that likened the gay community to a social movement similar to the Nazis in Germany in the 1930s.
No politician has stopped talking to Day. People in the public gallery who asked him to stop speaking were told to show respect and let Day speak.
“Many of us share very similar sentiments that we are all shocked by what we heard at the council meeting, disappointed that this happened at all, that the council gave this particular delegation a platform to spew the hatred and hate speech they they did, ”said Brian Kennedy, a spokesman for the civic group.
“It really made us feel like we were disappointed in our city, and it really made us deal with the consequences of hearing that hatred, being there, witnessing it, living with it, and now having to to answer. Everyone was very hurt, very sad and, of course, angry. ”
During Day’s presentation, he spoke about the Bible and questioned the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Brian Kennedy, leader of a community group in the town of Norwich, says the man accused of stealing Pride flags used “hate speech” during his appearance before the council on Tuesday. (Submitted by Brian Kennedy)
The civic group, which met Wednesday night, discussed what to do with Day and what he calls a homophobic presentation, as well as the inaction of Norwich’s municipal council during the presentation.
The Penal Code defines hate speech as “statements other than personal conversations” that “intentionally incite hatred against any established group” and “communication of statements in any public place” that “incite hatred against any identified group”. when such incitement may lead to a breach of the peace. ”
Day ignored the rules, the clerk said
When Day asked to present his thoughts on Pride’s flags to the city council, officials sought legal advice on whether to let him speak, said Ken Krueger, Norwich’s clerk and chief administrative officer.
This is the first time employees have sought legal advice before anyone speaks to councilors, Krueger said.
“Based on this legal advice, he was allowed to speak,” Krueger said, but with some restrictions: only for Pride’s banners in urban spaces, not for the legal charges he faces.
Day was also told not to speak “disrespectfully to anyone or in a way that would be considered hateful,” Krueger added.
Day significantly exceeded the 10-minute deadline normally given to delegate speakers. In the eight years he has been a city official, no one who has represented on the council has had his time reduced, even if it is above the 10-minute limit, Krueger said.
Norwich City Integrity Commissioner Greg Stewart said he had no comment on whether or not he had received complaints from Day or other council members.
Norwich Mayor Larry Martin told CBC News that he would like to try harder to stop Day’s performance.
“We did not want to allow Mr. Day to speak, but my interpretation was that if he did not address certain topics, he had every right to present himself at a council meeting,” Martin said. “Like a chair, much of the mistake lies on my shoulders. There was a lot going on in this room, the room was crowded and I was afraid of what would happen if I stopped it.
Since then, there have been emails from community members saying they do not feel safe in Norwich, Martin said, something he regrets. “Mr Day’s comments do not reflect the council’s ideas,” he said.
An image from security cameras at a home in Norwich, Ont., Shows a man removing a Pride flag on May 24. (Submitted by Jeff Ducharm)
count. Lynn DePlanke, who was also at the meeting on Tuesday, said she regretted that no one had stopped Day after 10 minutes.
“He didn’t start with hatred or condemnation, but as he continued, he became very hated by people,” she said. “As a piece of advice, this is a mistake on our part. It had to be cut off.”
DePlanke is also a member of the Norwich Business Improvement Association (BIA), which votes to raise Pride’s flags in the city.
count. John Scholten said he would not call what Day said “hateful” but rather “strong disagreement” with those who support Pride’s flags.
“The feelings are strong, that’s for sure. They are very strong. I just want everyone to simmer, “said Scholten.
Complaints against a member of the police council
The Norwich Police Board received five complaints against Gerrit Tenhove, a provincial appointed to the police board, after he spoke with the Norwich Business Improvement Association about his frustration that the BIA was raising flags of pride in the community.
“As a Christian church community, we hold on to the authority of the Bible. In terms of gender and sexuality, the Bible is very clear. God created man and woman … in terms of sexuality, any sex outside of heterosexual marriage is sinful, “Tenhove said in a June 7 presentation.
The Norwich Police Board meets on June 24 to address these complaints.
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