Pride march and rally in Norwich caps tumultuous time for movement

Over 200 Pride supporters attended a rally in Norwich on Monday evening. The Oxford County town has been the scene of several Pride flags being vandalized over the last two weeks. One school had a flagpole cut down and the flag stolen. Lee Griffi photo

By Lee Griffi

Over 200 Oxford County Pride supporters gathered at Emily Stowe Public School in Norwich on Monday night for a rally and march.

The event came after numerous flags were burned or stolen in the town, along with a flagpole being sawed off at the school.

One organizer and a former vice president of Oxford Pride addressed the crowd before the march.

“The reason we are here matters. … Nobody snaps a flagpole in half because they disagree with a colour scheme,” said Jordan Kent. “Nobody repeatedly targets flags across an entire community by accident. These acts were intended to send a message that 2SLGBTQIA+ people are not welcome here.”

Kent added the offenders want the Pride community to be quieter, less visible and less proud.

“That is why we are here today, to completely reject that message. …Volunteers, families, allies, faith leaders, businesses, community members and the Norwich JEDI, we all believe everyone belongs in Oxford County. We work to build a community where young people can be themselves, reflected, accepted and celebrated. I refuse to stand by while a small number of people try to drag our community backwards.”

The Norwich and Area JEDI Alliance, another of the event’s organizers, is a community volunteer group advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion across Norwich Township and Oxford County.

“The people tearing down these flags are not defending Norwich’s values; they are betraying them. Norwich is stronger than this. Norwich is kinder than this and Norwich is better than this,” said Kent, who then turned his attention to Oxford’s provincial and federal representatives.

“Where are Arpan Khanna and Ernie Hardeman? Where are their voices?”

He mentioned what he called an act of hate in April in front of Woodstock’s Turtle Island School, where a member of the Hindi community was verbally accosted by a young offender who was eventually arrested and charged by police.

“There was a lot of outrage. Statements came quickly and demands for accountability came quicker. But now, after repeated attacks on Pride flags at private residences, places of worship and schools, that same urgency seems nowhere to be found.”

Khanna recently provided the Gazette with a brief statement on the string of crimes.

“Any acts of vandalism or property damage are unacceptable. The OPP is investigating this incident, and I encourage anyone with information to contact police and assist with their investigation.”

For the second straight weekend, incidents of Pride flag vandalism and theft are keeping members of the Oxford OPP busy. Between Friday, June 12, and Monday, June 15, several flags were reported stolen from multiple locations, including another one at Emily Stowe and private residences on Jerdon Street and Stover Street.

“Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding these incidents and are working to identify those responsible. Police are encouraging anyone with information to come forward,” said a police news release. “Residents and businesses in the area are asked to review any available video surveillance during the noted timeframes and report anything that may assist investigators.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oxford OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Provincial police in neighbouring Perth County are also investigating a series of Pride flag incidents. On June 14, police launched an investigation after receiving reports of multiple flagpoles being cut down at school properties across the county.

The incidents occurred between June 13 and 14 in the areas of Perth Line 72, Perth Road 131, Perth Line 43 and Perth Road 135. Police are seeking to identify two people of interest who are both described as male, wearing all black clothing and face coverings and carrying a saw.

The suspects were observed in the area of these mischiefs operating an ATV.

Kent, before he and the crowd marched through Norwich, called for community leaders to take the acts of vandalism more seriously.

“If vandalism is wrong, it is wrong. If intimidation is wrong, it is wrong. If targeting symbols of belonging is unacceptable, it is unacceptable. The standard cannot change depending on who is being targeted. Leadership means speaking out against hate every single time, not only when it is politically convenient.”

He also had a message of support for young people gathered at the event.

“You belong here. You do not need anyone’s permission to exist. You do not need anyone’s approval to be who you are. And you are not standing alone. Look around you.”

Kent promised to replace any flag that is removed.

“When a Pride flag comes down, we will raise another. When hate speaks, we will speak louder. When our neighbours are targeted, we will stand beside them. And we will keep doing it for as long as it takes because this community belongs to all of us and we are not going anywhere.”