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SOGI rally turns violent in Abbotsford, protesters say

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ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) –  A rally supporting SOGI 123 in Abbotsford Sunday night took a violent turn, according to protesters who say they were hurt in a scuffle.

Louise Walker, the co-president of Pflag Surrey says she and others turned up to protest a speech by Jenn Smith at the Abbotsford Social Activity Association. Smith is an outspoken critic of SOGI 123, the teaching resource that provides guidance to teachers on how to speak to students about sexual orientation and gender identity in an inclusive, respectful and age-appropriate way.

The University of British Columbia was barred from participating in this year’s Pride Parade because it chose to go ahead with an event at which Smith was speaking, despite calls for cancellation.

RELATED: UBC barred from marching in Vancouver Pride Parade

Walker says someone who was trying to attend Sunday’s event was locked out of the venue and lashed out at protesters, hitting several people with a cane.

“He was locked out, he was angry about this – he started hitting the people who were peacefully protesting on the sidewalk with his cane.”

Walker says the man then got into his vehicle.

“He drove up to the sidewalk, backed up and then left the burnout mark in the parking lot itself and attempted to run over the protesters.”

A few activists were injured in the encounter, Walker says, adding she’s surprised by the incident, as the group was protesting peacefully.

“I was shocked, not only that somebody would hit people trying to help him, trying to help this fellow get into the venue with his cane, but the fact that he almost ran over five people.”

Abbotsford Police say they had officers on scene, but did not receive any reports of violence.

With files from Lauren Boothby.

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