Thread by @AmitaKuttner

So last night in a debate, I mentioned that during the 2019 election, I experienced misogynistic and abusive behaviour from my opponent, @SvendJRobinson. I then received this DM: 1/

(Sorry Svend, whomever relayed my statements did so incorrectly, you are right, you did not make misogynistic comments to me. My experience was misogyny and abuse though, and I do not lie, so as you asked, I’ll present my evidence.) 2/

I really didn’t want to have to do this, but here we are, here’s my story. I believed he meant well, and was likely unaware of how horrendous his behaviour was, so I let it be. To all you survivors out there who get this, I see you. Also, content warning: harassment and abuse. 3/

Nearly every time I saw Svend he would touch me without my permission. Occasionally, it was a consensual hug. Other times, it was a hand slipped around my waist, without my consent, express or implied. 4/

This is a gendered form of intimate physical interaction, and it made me extremely uncomfortable. He did not act the same way to my other opponents, and as a non-binary person this was dysphoric and painful. My team and @terrybeech saw this and knew of my discomfort. 5/

I felt I couldn’t say anything because it would be an admission that I was uncomfortable and it could be used against me. Every woman and gender non-conforming person knows this power dynamic. 6/

Soon after I was declared a candidate, I found out Svend was thinking about running, and he asked for a meeting with me. During this meeting he told me I had ”no chance in hell” and asked me to get out of the way for him. 7/

Over the next months he would repeatedly email @ElizabethMay complaining about things I said. Elizabeth can vouch for this. Going to someone’s superior and using their friendship feels like intimidation and control. 8/

Or he would call or message me to tell me something another Green said wasn’t okay and I should do something about it. This felt like a consistent attempt to control. The people who were around me when I took these calls can corroborate this. 9/

He also reached out to many Greens to get them to come to me to tell me to get out of the way, this included people sitting at the same table as me at Elizabeth’s wedding reception, as well as the former candidate @LynneQuarmby 10/

The messaging, what I saw as attempts at control and manipulation, and blaming me for standing in the way of climate action by existing, are one thing, but then he called me to complain about a tweet from Elizabeth… 11/

Elizabeth had said that I understand the effects of the climate emergency because of what happened to my family, and implied it was due to the climate crisis. It was in 2005, the climate was changing, there’s no way to be certain but… 12/

I do know what it is like and will be like for all those losing their homes and families to climate crisis fuelled natural disaster, and that was the point. In the call, Svend said that he had read my mother’s coroner’s report and that I should correct Elizabeth… 13/

That what she was saying was disingenuous because the report didn’t mention climate change. For the record, that’s not how coroner’s reports are written. I was blown away that someone would call me and try to use my mother’s death in this way. 14/

When I brought this all up to @CanadianGreens they offered no support, but instead told me I should go to the RCMP. I decided it would be too much work, and that for the legacy of Svend’s work it would be harmful. 15/

What Svend did could have been well intentioned, but my experience felt like gendered harassment and abuse. For proof, talk to my 2019 campaign team that watched me go through it. I also have a collection of screenshots. 16/

Truth-telling around these issues during an election is especially hard, because you’ll be accused of trying to sway an election, and partisanship. I reached out to @mdgmedia who was at @starvancouver and discussed it, but requested it stay quiet. 17/

I am preparing to be questioned and blamed for my own experience, so I will say this: I have known psychological abuse, I know the signs. And, in any situation multiple people can have experiences that don’t match and are true to them. 18/

I decided after this that I wouldn’t let this be what politics is, and that we must create spaces that support people. I will stand up and be honest, I am done with people trying to hide behind lies, and committing abuse for political gain. 19/

I was asked to either show my evidence, or apologize. I think I am owed an apology by @SvendJRobinson, and @theJagmeetSingh, and @NDP. And the @CanadianGreens for their inaction. I believe you are all better than this. Politics must be better than this. Let’s start now. 20/20