Calgary man charged for hate-motivated library protest

Calgary man charged for hate-motivated library protest

Calgary police have charged a 36–year–old man with eight criminal charges in connection with a hate–motivated crime. The incident occurred at a Reading with Royalty event at the Seton Library in Calgary‘s southeast. The event featured local drag queens and kings leading storytimes for children, who were encouraged to dress in their best outfit, cape or crown.

 

 

When officers arrived at the scene, they found that several people had aggressively entered the library classroom and were shouting homophobic and transphobic slurs at the children and parents in attendance. The man has been identified as Derek Scott Reimer and he has been charged with causing a disturbance and mischief.

Hate motivation in a crime can be taken into account by the courts when someone is found guilty of a connected crime, and it can add to the sentence. Calgary bylaw officers also charged Reimer with six counts of harassment under the city’s public behaviour bylaw. Each charge carries a potential fine of up to $10,000 and, if payment defaults, six months imprisonment.

The City of Calgary amended its public behavior bylaw in June 2022 to prohibit harassing anyone based on their age, race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or gender identity or expression. It is hoped that this case serves as an example that hate–motivated crimes will not be tolerated, and those found guilty will face the full extent of the law for their actions.

Ryan Pleckaitis, the city’s chief of community standards, stated “These amendments were created as a clear message that Calgary is a place everyone should feel welcome and safe, and free from harassment.” Furthermore, the City of Calgary has reminded citizens that laws and bylaws apply to all sides of any protest equally and that police and bylaw officers will continue to ensure other incidents of harassment are monitored, investigated and enforced.