Shouting dominates meeting
By Susan Gamble, Brantford Expositor staff
Friday, October 06, 2006 - 01:00
There was plenty of shouting but none of the feared violence at a public meeting Thursday night held by Gary McHale to discuss the upcoming March for Freedom in Caledonia.
About a dozen natives and native supporters gathered in the parking lot of the Lions Park Arena and tried to ensure McHale’s message didn’t get through to the 35 or 40 people who came to hear him.
Two men shouted over McHale’s voice every time he tried to speak. One man held a sign that read, “Just send Gary $$$$.”
At least four city police officers were on hand, watching the small crowd.
The meeting became a hotly contended issue after Mayor Mike Hancock and senior city staff met and decided to cancel the verbal agreement they had with McHale to rent Lions Park Arena.
A large mobile sign in the parking lot and signs on the arena door of the arena announced the meeting had been cancelled. The same message was also delivered by the city in an advertisement in The Expositor.
Hancock said he was concerned about the potential for violence after reading McHale’s website, www.caledoniawakeupcall.com. The arena and the mayor’s office had numerous phone calls for and against the rental.
After the meeting, Hancock expressed relief.
“A lot of residents from the area phoned me with their concerns and we were also concerned because there was figure skating going on (at the arena) tonight and we didn’t want the young people intimidated,” Hancock said in a telephone interview.
People who showed up for the 7 p.m. meeting were directed by police officers to the far side of the Lions Park parking, away from the facility and near a new ball hockey rink.
As McHale tried to talk about why he was organizing a big March for Freedom on Oct. 15, opponents gathered around him and interrupted every sentence.
Clearly rattled, McHale tried to tell the crowd that he was angry at the two-tiered justice he sees occurring in Caledonia surrounding the occupation of the Douglas Creek Estates lands. Natives have been on that property for seven months "reclaiming" it as a protest for the slow pace of their land claims with the government.
“Nobody has been charged for destroying the power station or burning bridges,” McHale said. "When you dig up a highway, block a bridge or burn a bridge, its’ an act of terrorism."
“You’re a racist!” yelled a man.
Others yelled at the hecklers to be quiet so they could hear.
McHale said provincial and federal politicians aren’t going to pay much attention to Caledonia citizens alone because their numbers are too small. He urged people across Ontario to support the march.
“Caledonia needs other towns to help them. If you do nothing, these are the people you’ll have to deal with.”
The hecklers yelled that McHale is only after money and that the march will lead to violence.
“We’re going to remain peaceful that day,” insisted McHale.
“You know what will happen if you come to the site,” yelled a native man. “We’ll protect our land against you ... by any means possible.”
“I have made it crystal clear we want no violence,” said McHale. “There’s one group that claims the other is violent. There’s one group that says the other is racist. I’ll let you decide which group it is.”
After the meeting broke up, police watched as small pockets of people continued to discuss what had been said and debate each other.
McHale said his supporters had shown self-control and would do the same on Oct. 15 during the afternoon rally.
He said the natives and native supporters showed their stripes by their behaviour at the meeting.
“But they have the right to come here and speak because of the Canadian constitution.”
McHale also said he has filed papers to sue Hancock in small claims court for $3,600 for the costs incurred due to the city cancelling his meeting place.
“If he can cancel our meeting, he can cancel anyone’s meeting. We’re in Kitchener tomorrow night (Friday). There’s still freedom of speech there.”
A Brantford man said he was annoyed by McHale’s appearance.
“We don’t need a guy from Richmond Hill coming here and telling us what to do. He stirs the pot and criticizes the job the police are doing.”
Another detractor said McHale is shilling political votes and trying to make money.
“He needs to be exposed for his racism. You don’t got to wear a white hood and use the N-word to be a racist.” More people yelled at McHale as they drove away.
A police officer said those yelling at the meeting may have breached the peace but the important thing was that “nothing was thrown” but words and no one was hurt.