Opposing protest groups clash outside Brockville, Ont. drag event – Kingston | 24CA News
More than 50 individuals filed into the Brockville Public Library on Saturday for its first-ever Drag Story Time occasion.
Simultaneously, a gaggle of 14 individuals protesting in opposition to the drag present traded verbal barbs with a gaggle of counter-protesters who have been there to defend the occasion.
The library’s CEO, Geraldine Slark, was among the many counter-protesters.
“We were just having a party out there, just having a great time so that we couldn’t hear the megaphones of the extremists that were shouting things,” stated Slark.
Read extra:
Kingston, Ont. lady survives spectacular crash
Read More
There have been some tense moments, and a bomb menace was referred to as into the library after the occasion.
“There was a vague threat that was called in after the event, or was discovered after the event,” stated Brockville Police Deputy Chief Andrew Harvie. “The building was searched, there was no evidence of any explosive device and we’re still investigating at this point.”
Drag performer Dare de LaFemme, who hails from Kingston, says they have been in a position to block out the noise and placed on a present for the handfuls of kids who have been in attendance.
“I am a professional and I did what I was there to do and, really, it’s about the kids. So, in that moment, it’s not about what’s going on outside, it’s about showing up as me, for them,” stated de Lafemme.
Police stated regardless of the butting of heads outdoors, there have been no incidents throughout the protest aside from a number of individuals who have been requested to exit the constructing and did so with out challenge.
Slark says regardless of the pushback, the occasion obtained way more help than opposition.
“Libraries have been doing drag story times for almost 10 years at this point and it’s only in the past couple of years that we’ve gotten this feedback and that we’ve gotten this language of ‘we shouldn’t have queer events in the library,’” stated Slark.
Through the library’s social media channels, Slark says the library will host one drag occasion for each protester that confirmed up Saturday.
The subsequent Drag Story Time is slated to happen this January.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
