Hamilton police deploy public order unit during protests, street closed

Hamilton police deployed their public order unit at the site of protests against the gender ideology education today “due to escalating behaviour” between two groups.

They told hamilton.insauga.com later on that “no serious incidents” and no arrests happened during the demonstrations. However, one counterprotester said many parents were “confrontational” and protesters had yelled obscenities at her.

Police said Upper Wentworth in Hamilton was shut down “for public safety” but announced about a half hour later that it had reopened. 

“Police remain on scene and continue to monitor the situation,” they wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter,  earlier on Wednesday (Sept. 20). 

A “1 Million March 4 Children” rally today across the country, protesting schools’ gender identity curriculum, had sparked heated opposition. Local media reported that the protests took place at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board office at 20 Education Court.

Mayor Andrea Horwath and five councillors expressed their concerns about the rally’s “hateful rhetoric” against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

The “1 Million March 4 Children” organizers said they are protesting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity teachings in schools in part because they say children are too young to learn about the subject and they are worried children are being used as “tools” for a political agenda.

When asked by hamilton.insauga.com if the protest was the 1 Million March 4 Kids, Jackie Penman, spokesperson for the force, didn’t specify what the protest was about. “You will need to reach out to the protesters regarding their agenda,” she said in an email to hamilton.insauga.com. “At this time, police continue to monitor the situation.”

Hamilton police also announced this morning that they deployed remotely piloted aircraft or drones in an area of Hamilton to ensure safety during a protest, which they said is the usual procedure. They also didn’t provide more details when asked by hamilton.insauga.com.

“We have deployed our RPAS to ensure public safety in the area,” Penman said in an email to hamilton.insauga.com.

Hamilton police had posted just after 11:20 a.m. on X, formerly known as Twitter, that they were flying the RPAS in the area of Upper Wentworth and Education Court for “an ongoing protest.”