Thread by @kbmetcalf

1/ This is massive. My own charges from the People's Party of Canada event at Mohawk College have been withdrawn as well. Looks like we're mostly 'out from under' at this time, so I'll finally give comment. #onpoli #cdnpoli

2/ Despite trying their best to charge a group of us for standing up to organized #hate and #racism, Hamilton Police Service has been forced to acknowledge that they never really had a case. I was charged for saying "fuck you" to an officer who shoved me. facebook.com/kevinbmetcalf/…

3/ Nobody "harassed old ladies", that was fake news, amplified through networks of inauthentic posters across the same social media platforms and associations presently under international investigation for material support of terror following the recent US coup attempt.

4/ Nobody that I saw counter-demonstrating at Mohawk college got violent or out of hand, except the violent boomer white supremacists who were escorted into the event.

5/ Nobody attended expecting or planning violence, except the uniformed members of the #ProudBoys street fighting club (now legally a #terror group) who joined forces with the Hamilton Police to secure the PPC event.

6/ The only real crime that I witnessed occurring was the outpouring of hatred and vitriol toward my (now vindicated) friend Alaa Soufi DaLua and the Soufi family in the weeks and months following the publication of a silly, out-of-context and deliberately inflammatory video.

7/ Their lives and livelihoods were subjected to a targeted campaign of anti-Syrian racism, explicit death threats and great vitriol in connection with his political advocacy. toronto.ctvnews.ca/popular-syrian…

8/ Ironically, I can't think of a more patriotic act than standing up to hate groups who are seeking to cement mainstream participation in the political process. Elections Canada would prefer these groups have our home addresses. thestar.com/politics/feder…

9/ From what I observed, the unrelenting campaign against the Soufis came in no small part, with the direct support of the national and international media establishment, with the out-of-context clip being broadcast widely to the public.

10/ The situation even prompted Prime Minister Trudeau to tweet his opposition to the hateful current. This was information warfare, set against the backdrop of Bernier's hate party rally for American provocateur Dave Rubin.

https://twitter.com/justintrudeau/status/1181741958567530497?lang=en

11/ The event was defended by uniformed members of a now banned terror group, who, as I said above-- stood shoulder to shoulder with Hamilton Police in securing the venue.

12/ In order to prosecute a group of anti-hate activists who (frankly) had no real direct affiliation with each other, being from different cities, organizations and lived experiences, they (the police) relied on misinformation and media manipulation by far right extremists.

13/ Those extremists and extremist-friendly publications have names, including Rick Boswick, Kevin J. Johnston, Bryan Trottier, Andy Ngo and The Post Millenial. The Police evidence disclosure contained screenshots from far right blog sites and 'eyewitness' video testimony.

14/ One of the above, Bryan Trottier, bragged about providing 'intel' (almost all of which was fake or publicly available) to international media and police sources. He's sent along messages every few months, including messages celebrating the deaths of friends and comrades.

15/ I am as appalled today as I was in that moment that our society gives succor and shelter to these inhuman monsters, but I am emboldened by the knowledge that at long last, justice appears to be at hand. Who knew? The "truth" and "facts" consistently have a left bias.

16/ Somehow I expect this monumental victory for the truth won't quite get the coverage that the outrage over the #FakeNews "crime" did.

17/ I hope deeply that this is just the beginning of the reckoning for the forces and factions who sought to foment hatred by sowing chaos in the real lives of very brave and honourable folks. The state tried to do us all dirty for doing the right thing, fortunately, they failed.

18/ Photo credits for tweets 11, 5 and 3 to @christenekrahe1. Full credit to the contributors who are filling out the the archives.