In a melange of pride flags, keffiyehs, and masks, a group of activists assembled in Victoria, B.C. last week to call for city council to kibosh an upcoming freedom-focused conference.
The activist contingent calling itself 1 Million Voices for Inclusion is trying to shut down the We Unify Reclaiming Canada conference, scheduled for June 21-23 at the Victoria Conference Centre.
The Victoria Conference Centre is a municipally-owned venue.
We Unify’s featured speakers include Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich, Rebel News reporter Drea Humphrey, and former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford.
We Unify describes itself as a volunteer-run grassroots movement to advance freedom and safeguard democracy, as well as champion fair elections, vibrant debate, accountable government, and a more inclusive society.
“We’re here to ask the City of Victoria to deny the Victoria Conference Centre to We Unify, who is having a lineup of flat-out, I mean, we’re talking about hate speech here,” protest organizer Martin Girard told True North, claiming that the speakers are going to violate the Criminal Code and the B.C. human rights code.
The protesters take particular umbrage with the appearance of conservative commentator Lauren Southern, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms founder John Carpay, and United Arab Emirates-based rapper and social media influencer Zuby.
The Victoria Conference Centre has so far stood strong amidst the recent calls for cancellation.
“The city’s actions are subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and there is a right to freedom of expression in public places,” city spokesperson Colleen Mycroft told Chek News last week.
Both Girard and Monique May of 1 Million Voices for Inclusion spoke at the protest and subsequently gave a brief address to Victoria City Council.
“We of 1 Million Voices for Inclusion demand the City of Victoria reconsider its decision to allow the upcoming We Unify conference at the Victoria Conference Centre,” Girard stated at the podium.
“Its speaker lineup is an affront to the LGBTQ+ community, with several flagged for hate speech, suspended from social media, even barred from entering countries,” Girard testified.
May claimed the conference would bring “disinformation” and “hate” to Victoria.
“Yes, I am a proponent of free speech,” May said. “But when free speech then targets people based on race, on sexuality, on ability, on age, and gender, we have an issue.”
Immediately following Girard’s and May’s appearance, Mayor Marianne Alto noted that there was no further business for the evening and moved to adjourn the 27-minute-long meeting.
Girard had called on the local community to “fill the room” at the city council chambers, but ultimately he was only able to pull a crowd of about 25.
True North asked Girard how many members are a part of 1 Million Voice For Inclusion, but Girard said he did not have that information.
When True North asked if the We Unify speakers should be jailed or fined for their speech, Girard said “it’s up to B.C. prosecution,” and May replied that she isn’t a lawyer.
We Unify successfully held conferences in 2022 and 2023, with some recurring speakers and no apparent criminal charges.
“The lineup didn’t look half as toxic last year, so we let it fly,” Girard said.
We Unify said in a statement that the event is almost sold out and organizers thank the City of Victoria for accurately interpreting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“It is only through dialogue and civil engagement with one another that we can begin to understand, attain knowledge and heal our divided communities,” We Unify wrote.
