Cowichan businesswoman Kristi Koons said she’s alarmed and concerned over the fact that she and another two women were asked to leave a town hall featuring federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on June 10 because of the T-shirts they were wearing.
Koons said she was quiet and respectful at the town hall, which was held at Mellor Hall at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds and attracted more than 1,000 people, before a group of men and RCMP officers approached her and said she was not welcome at the event because of her T-shirt.
Koons’s T-shirt featured half a rainbow pie, with the slogan: “Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It’s not pie.”
She said after some discussion, the RCMP respectfully asked her to leave the town hall, as well as two other women at the event that were also wearing T-shirts with slogans that some at the event didn’t like.
“I found it alarming,” Koons said.
“I’m an engaged community member and I often sit at (discussion) tables with people that have many points of view. I work hard to try to bridge the gaps and I have big worries these days about where we’re heading, particularly with what’s going on south of the border.”
Koons said she believes that she and the other two women that were asked to leave were profiled just because of their attire.
“Regardless of their political leanings, everybody should be concerned about this,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of Conservatives reach out to me and say this isn’t right, but I’m seeing lots of hate and vitriol online as well. The Conservative Party is always talking about how they respect free speech, but we weren’t even allowed to wear our T-shirts. Once again, many of them are finding women’s clothing too distracting. This is against our civil rights.”
A statement from the RCMP said decisions for who can and cannot attend private functions like the town hall are made by event organizers, not the RCMP.
“From our understanding, the woman was one of a few people who were asked to leave by private security,” the statement said.
“RCMP involvement was limited to explaining their jeopardy or the implications should they refuse to leave. They left on their own without further intervention.”
Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Jeff Kibble, who hosted the town hall, said he wasn’t aware of the women being asked to leave at the time, and was “saddened” to hear about it.
He said he’s been in contact with Koons and the other two women and agreed to meet with them for a coffee sometime this week to offer them the opportunity to discuss their concerns and points of view, and answer any questions they had hoped to ask at the town hall.
Kibble said they are welcome to wear any T-shirt they want at the meeting.
“I’m not sure who made the decision to ask them to leave, but the RCMP are in charge of risk assessment and I appreciate and thank them for leaving willingly,” Kibble said.
“All people of all political beliefs and opinions were represented at the town hall and were welcome to participate in a healthy and respectful conversation. That’s what makes for a good democracy.”
Koons said she contacted Kibble to set up a meeting on Jan. 13, and he replied that it would have to be sometime the following week.