Pride Day Violence & Police & Council Reaction
At the Pride Day Festival in 2019, white supremacists attended the event and proceeded to harass attendees. Violence broke out between the agitators and peaceful attendees of the celebration. Police were called, but were not prompt in their arrival. The violence and subsequent controversy over police reaction led to an Independent Inquiry into Pride Day violence.
Police took ‘far too long’ to respond to ‘violent’ Pride protest: Pride Hamilton
Police are investigating after several people suffered minor injuries
Dan Taekema · CBC News · Posted: Jun 17, 2019
Pride Hamilton says it believes a physical confrontation that broke out at the Hamilton Pride festival Saturday could have been prevented by police who took “far too long” to respond. Police are investigating the incident. No charges have been laid. On Sunday police said they witnessed several people with minor injuries, but so far no victims have come forward.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/pride-hamilton-protest-1.5178037
Chief says police would have deployed differently if they were welcome at Pride
Organizers say police took ‘too long’ to respond after a physical altercation began
CBC News · Posted: Jun 20, 2019
Hamilton’s police chief says officers would have been deployed differently during the city’s Pride festival if they had been welcomed at the event.
Instead, out of desire to respect the wishes of organizers, they kept their distance at the perimeter until a physical confrontation broke out.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/girt-pride-protest-1.5182014
Hamilton police chief apologizes for comments about public sex and the LGBTQ community
The apology is ‘not enough’ and ‘not even a beginning,’ says activist
Christine Rankin · CBC News · Posted: Sep 12, 2019
Hamilton police chief Eric Girt has apologized for hurting the LGBTQ community with remarks about public sex made in a radio interview.
Chief Girt was speaking to CHML radio host Bill Kelly about tensions with the LGBTQ community on Tuesday. While Kelly asked about an organized meeting between the police and LGBTQ community members back in August, Girt’s response took a different direction.
Pride report puts Hamilton Police Chief Eric Girt in hot seat
By Teviah MoroSpectator Reporter
Nicole O’ReillySpectator Reporter
Wed., June 10, 2020
The author of a scathing independent review of how Hamilton police responded to violence at Pride and the service’s fractured relationship with the LGBTQ+ community stops short of analyzing whether the top brass needs to be replaced. But lawyer Scott Bergman’s report, which found police’s handing of anti-LGBTQ+ disrupters at the June 2019 celebration at Gage Park “inadequate,” doesn’t sidestep the crucial role Chief Eric Girt plays in leading the police service during a time of deep crisis.
Chief, mayor apologize after report finds 2019 Hamilton Pride police actions ‘inadequate’
DON MITCHELL GLOBAL NEWS
Posted June 11, 2020
Hamilton Ont., police chief Eric Girt apologized to the LGBTQ2 community in a prepared statement during the city’s police services board meeting. The apology comes following an independent review of the Hamilton Police Service’s (HPS) actions before and at the city’s 2019 Pride festivities in Gage Park.
“As chief, I take full responsibility for what took place at Pride before, during and after,” said Girt, “And I do apologize to the community for inadequate planning and preparation for Hamilton Pride 2019.”
https://globalnews.ca/news/7055223/chief-mayor-apologize-report-2019-hamilton-pride/