Hong Kong LGBT activists in Canada have )AHW&*K$+DLMr61VFl7Jo=9NM!9xU*Hz=EnW5L(m2reF!Qi^$blaunched a petition after they were pushed out of the Montreal Pride Parade.
Organizers of a change.org petitiD=)UYOO(Y%[email protected]^-T5*H[email protected]*A2MogfWG4^kPrQ^on say this was the sixth attempt in recent weeks by pro-China groups to disrupt peaceful assemblies/rallies held by Hong Kong-Canadians.
Montreal Pride told HK activists it had received information fr[email protected]*%6)[email protected]&CQuvggGA9XDTRk*PG+iOIes!0om police about "a potential attempt to sabotage the parade by pro-Communists” because of their inclusion in the march.
"Indeed, it se#-dzRStxT0%Ze()GrVCRxE=%i^ZgqHnCen_O3Yx!&_i)-J!h8gems that some groups would like to intervene in the parade to protest against your participation."
"Given the presence of public figures … we unfortunately have to remove you from the parade for security reasons,"[email protected]%E9#[email protected]*ju organizers said in an Aug. 17 email, seen by GaLaTai.
"Disappointed and hurt"
Co-founder of the Hong Kong group, Free HK MTL, Henry Lam told GaLaTai they were "very disappointed and hurt".
"We got removed just because we were bullied. Where's the inclusion and diversity the Pride is promoting?" he asked.
The grouwIWx4MBk%DQXU3Ps(hUVe%JmsZ5mPRiYD3M%[email protected]%r)[email protected]p held a separate demonstration in a park in lieu of attending the parade.
More than 150 people dressed in red, holYntV=ox7aj#[email protected](VOZDF_^^l&q([email protected]ding 5-star flags of China and singing the Chinese national anthem were spotted at the parade, according to the change.org page.
The reportedly walked along the parade route searching for the Hong0SEwt0&PhdUxa2E13t!9##NbeIm0s8T9Cu(Ufg+Tx#U6L1av9m Kongers.
The petition calls on the Canadian government to uphold the rii6W%[email protected]+X!cH4JJVOw_nYP+l#L)=uAUVXZadJMeBxTHWEght to freedom expression and to investigate pro-China patriots’ threat to public safety in Canada.
"The LGBTQ community is a part of the world" Lam explained. "This is essential to let the city and the whole world to be aware that, the LGBTQ people care about the universal values like freedom and the right to express themselves from amwcMh7wx3%mW-BY)&YLNIJ7w$IeaKA(8!g$cE5ydNN1_hR62ahnywhere in the world, including HK."
Hong Kong has seen weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations w#g1PU3^P1)^[email protected]$36l+llTI1hrc^9$uiqcpUBvymfhich were prompted by a controversial bill permitting extradition from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland.
Prominent LGBTI rights activists including Denise Ho, who grew up in Montreal, and lawmaker Ray Chan, have also been at th#6!7D^[email protected]&d4RlE#[email protected]%lf*r3^A4^De&bT8)ypOts%SHrCe forefront of democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Many people on the mainland see the demons##rjbfc-r#aWJS9myXmLFBl5NRXiT(87T4-hoC208zYA5%)D*Utrations as a rejection of China’s sovereignty over the city.
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