Drown out hate! Defend trans kids

Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate group Save Canada has partnered with celebrity anti-trans activist “Billboard Chris” Elston for a rally and march in front of our schools on June 9th. They plan to meet at Broadview and Carling at 11:00 am, and then march up Broadview to spread anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate in front of three schools on Broadview (Notre Dame High School, Broadview Public School, and Nepean High School).

“Billboard Chris” is a notorious anti-trans activist who travels around North America to spread hate and instigate conflict at queer events, and who participated in the convoy occupation of Ottawa. Save Canada are a Diagolon-affiliated far-right youth group which has marched with neo-Nazis outside of schools and drag storytime events across Ontario. Their main spokesperson, Josh Alexander, is a high school student from Renfrew who was expelled for bullying transgender students.

Fortunately, we have a secret weapon – the power of community. In 2021, Billboard Chris was chased out of town by 2SLGBTQIA+ folks and allies. This past February, Save Canada partnered with our local far right and convoy remnants to shut down a drag storytime event at the National Arts Centre, where they failed miserably as 300 community members showed up to protect the event.

While we can not be complacent, Ottawa has learned over the past two years that if we mobilize effectively, we can defeat the far right. As such, we are supporting local parents and community members in their plans to oppose these far-right anti-2SLGBTQIA+ instigators. Show up early, and bring signs, flags, banners, and noisemakers to drown out their hate.

Drown out hate! Defend trans kids!
June 9th, 10:00 am
Broadview and Wellesley
(one block north of Carling)

IMPORTANT: The main tactics of Save Canada and Billboard Chris are to provoke conflict and get physically aggressive with counter-protesters, then portray themselves as the victims in an effort to either raise their profile and create content or attempt to get counter-protesters arrested. They also may attempt to doxx and harass those who oppose their hateful agenda.

By taking some precautions, we can keep each other safe while facing down far right instigators.

• Do not give interviews to far right media outlets or “independent journalists”
• Don’t debate far-right trolls. Drown them out with chants and noise! Especially if they are filming or livestreaming and looking for content.
• Do not film supporters without their permission, and do not livestream. Do film the far right, fake journalists, and the police in order to protect yourself and your friends.
• Protect your identity. Mask up, and use signs, flags, umbrellas, etc., to protect yourself from being photographed by far right activists or fake news outlets.
• Do not talk to the police
• Maintain situational awareness, and watch each others’ backs
• Try to arrive and leave as a group
• Check the weather, drive safely and dress appropriately! Give yourself plenty of time to arrive!

For more information on how to keep yourself and your friends safe, visit the Safety Plan section of our website.

For more information, or if you would like to support and help out with this action, contact the main organizers at broadviewlove@gmail.com or contact us at communitysolidarityottawa@gmail.com