Calgary pastor faces new bail hearing on drag queen story hour protest charges
Rebel News' Sheila Gunn Reid is tweeting live from the bail hearing of Pastor Derek Reimer.
Derek Reimer of Calgary's Mission 7 Ministries was arrested March 15 for allegedly breaching his bail conditions which prevent him from protesting drag queen story hour events or having any contact with someone who identifies as a member of the LGBTQAI2S+ community.
BREAKING: Pastor Derek Reimer has been arrested again, this time for breaching his bail conditions following his previous arrest for protesting an all-ages drag event.
— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) March 15, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/dLqir6DLgR pic.twitter.com/4fbPSxk7tP
Derek's current bail conditions stem from a prior arrest on charges of mischief and causing a disturbance on March 2. He faces a review of those charges March 29.
BREAKING: Pastor Derek Reimer has been arrested by the Calgary police over his protest at an all-ages drag queen story time at a public library this past weekend.
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) March 2, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/Ip0OEo5udq
Support his legal fight at https://t.co/zc7g2IcjLX! pic.twitter.com/585EZTFIb5
The pastor, who works with Calgary's homeless, was charged after he heckled a so-called "reading with royalty" drag queen event at Calgary's Seton Library on February 28.
Pastor Derek Reimer was arrested and charged with mischief earlier today. Reimer was kicked out of a public library for protesting an all-ages drag event in Calgary this past weekend.
— Yanky (@Yanky_Pollak) March 1, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/L0u9Jj623r pic.twitter.com/Dbt4RolQNt
In the video of the altercation which spawned the charges, Derek can be seen tossed to the ground after being manhandled by attendees of the drag event in the municipally funded building.
Calgary pastor Derek Reimer was physically thrown out of an all-ages drag story hour hosted by the Calgary Public Library. He was there protesting against exposing kids to drag queens.
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 27, 2023
Mayor Jyoti Gondek is trying to criminalize protests against these https://t.co/SiKFg8k3Te… https://t.co/jjnDlKGD2J pic.twitter.com/mvCWArkMYV
Calgary's progressive mayor, Jyoti Gondek, and her allies on council recently passed a law to restrain anti-drag show activities.
1/I’ll be unpacking all the “reasons” why enforcement teams & the Crown feel the street harassment bylaw & other existing bylaws/legislation are not strong enough to charge demonstrators who spread vile lies & hatred in public. And then I’ll be pushing for more. No more excuses.
— Jyoti Gondek (@JyotiGondek) February 26, 2023
The Safe and Inclusive Access bylaw prohibits "specified protests" within 100 metres of a city-affiliated facility. The penalties under the new law could see offenders spend a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.
1/3
— Angelica🇨🇦 (@_angelica_toy) March 14, 2023
Today, on the Calgary City Council agenda is a proposed Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw which would prohibit “specified protests” within 100 metres of the entrances to public libraries, city-owned recreation facilities, and city-affiliated recreation centres.
The official crowdfund to offset Derek Reimer's legal fees can be found at www.SavePastorDerek.com. All donations qualify for a charitable tax receipt through a partnership with the registered Canadian civil liberties charity, The Democracy Fund.
Follow along live with Sheila's tweets here:
Return date. March 29, room 308 Calgary Courts Centre.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Reimer is still restrained by the city of Calgary anti protest bylaw as well.
And with that, we are done. https://t.co/jLN18QYfkr
Conditions for the release of Pastor Derek.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
-$5000 no cash bail.
-no contact/public statements with certain named people from Seton Library event.
-no contact with participants/performers at drag events.
-no contact/interference with anyone at any https://t.co/jLN18QYfkr…
The crown wants a 500 metres prohibition from LGBTQ events/community.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Allison says Derek will still feed the homeless, even if they're gay. He won't stop. Has gay family members.
Allison points that the Crown is conflating the entire LGBTQ community with drag queens at libraries and that she's trying to elevate mischief to a hate crime.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Crown tries to argue that Derek saying "homosexuality is a sin" is inciting hate under hate crimes law..
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Judge disagrees.
And Allison notes that one of the exceptions to the hate crimes law is belief in a religious text (the Bible).
Derek remains stoic in the prisoner's box. No reaction to the crown's exaggerating
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
(The judge is out of patience with the exaggeration of the crown.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
She's doing to Derek what Rolling Stone did to Michael Knowles. Just making it up out of her own anti Christian bigotry.)
Crown says words Derek Reimer uses are consistent with promoting hatred, by calling drag queen stories hours "sinful".
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
She gets checked for misrepresenting Derek by the judge. Crown said Derek said LGBTQ people are dirty and need to be eradicated.
He did NOT say those things
The crown keeps pointing out that Reimer has repeatedly said "he will be obedient to God, above the govt or police".
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
(Ok so biblical orthodoxy?)
Judge stops crown after she says Derek was spewing hatred, inciting hatred. He's not charged with hate crimes.
Ooooh. Judge asks that if Derek were convicted of everything, would he serve more time than what he's already done? She says no.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Crown says they are seeking a short sharp sentence. 30-60 days.
He's at 11-ish already. And it's time and a half for pretrial custody.
Allison notes Derek's concerns are about public spaces and kids, he doesn't protest gay weddings.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
"His statements are religiously charged. Not everyone is going to agree with his placed value on the Bible. Some people may find his comments rude. He is still entitled to…
Allison notes that Derek Reimer was not arrested for protesting most recently but for being too close by 40 metres from a drag event venue.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
He tried to abide. If he wanted to breach, he'd have been on the doorstep of the library.
Reimer is sitting in the prisoner's box.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Allison points out that Reimer was not arrested and charged the day of the first protest. It came days later.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Derek Reimer complied with police at Seton Library when asked to leave. Did not resist arrest any time be was arrested.
Crown mentioned body cam footage. Allison has never seen it.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
He has not seen police statements either.
Allison is addressing Derek Reimer's past criminal history.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
His record shows a man who struggles with violence. But today he is a man who ministers and feeds the homeless.
Allison also notes Reimer was not the one who reacted violently at Seton library. He was passive.
Allison is noting how ridiculous the bail conditions are.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Reimer cannot have any contact with any LGBTQ person for any reason, directly or indirectly. How does he exist in the world? Does he have to quiz someone on sexuality constantly before interacting?
Allison says he is trying to strike a reasonable balance between Reimer's rights and protection of the people.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Allison reminds everyone this is a bail hearing. And Reimer is to be presumed innocent, including of being a transphobic homophobic person.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
The crown now reads apparently damning statements made by Reimer:
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
"We have to follow our convictions."
"We have to do what God calls us to do."
"I have to challenge these conditions. "
"In my cell, I was praying a lot"
"A burning desire to do God's will"
"Compelled by…
Reimer is not to go to any lgbtq event (within 200 metres)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Crown says Reimer was within 160m of the event. Crown sayspolice used mapping tools. Judge asks if police marked it or advised Derek he was breaching.
Crown says she doesn't know.
But the video is out there.
New info: March 5 Reimer was involved in a fight with his cell mate at YYC Remand.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Charged with institutional misconduct, no assault charges.
Reimer may have broken his wrist. Cell mate had a split eye, split head.
Differing stories from both about who the fight began.
At the Seton Library incident, Reimer shouted "they won't inherit heaven" and "what's being taught here is wrong."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
The crown admits Reimer was physically removed by others.
Reimer made no threats nor assaults, although the Crown gives evidence that witnesses "felt" intimidated because "he was using his size to threaten people who would not attack back."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Except they did attack him, on camera.
Judge asked Crown for examples of so-called transphobic comments. She gives:
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
"With Jesus, today is the day of salvation in Christ"
"We do this every weekend"
"...Perversion of drag queens perverting our children"
At the Seton Library incident, Reimer shouted "they won't inherit heaven" and "what's being taught here is wrong."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
The crowd admits Reimer was physically removed by others.
(TD Bank is a sponsor of the reading with royalty event at the library)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
The crown wants pretrial detention of this pastor on secondary and tertiary grounds.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
- risk of re-offence
-public confidence in the justice system.
Ben Allison says he's had a "fulsome" discussion with the crown assigned. Although they can't seem to come to a more "reasonable" set of conditions.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Derek can't even be near an LGBTQ person for any reason, with no exceptions.
No other journalists in the courtroom btw.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
A wiser politician would have made this tweet thread signalling she wanted a stronger police crackdown on peaceful protests an off-the-record phone call. Instead of a sm rant.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
But not Gondek.
This led to Derek Reimer's arrest days later. https://t.co/Rnskwm0UrX
Pastor Derek Reimer is being represented by lawyer Ben Allison, through a partnership with the registered Canadian charity, the Democracy Fund.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
To make a tax deductible donation, please visit https://t.co/ibrdfyDebn.
The crown assigned to case is here for once. She told the judge she anticipates a 1 hr contested bail hearing.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
I overheard her telling a colleague Pastor Derek's" entourage is here" and that she "wasn't going back to the office" for fear of being "ambushed with tomatoes".
Pastor Derek has dozens of supporters outside the courthouse protesting and supporters are just now packing the pews inside room 306 at the Calgary Courts Center.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
He is accused of protesting in breach of his previous conditions to stay away from LGBT people and drag events.
The mayor of the City of Calgary, Jyoti Gondek, pressured the police to arrest Pastor Derek for heckling a drag queen, although Derek was the one assaulted on camera at Calgary's Seton Library during a Reading With Royalty Event.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
To follow along with all the arrests and bail hearings, and to support Derek Reimer, pastor at Mission 7 Ministries, please visit https://t.co/ibrdfyDebn.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
Reimer also faces 6 separate fines under Calgary's anti protesting law. He's been in jail this time since March 15.
In court this morning for a bail hearing for Calgary Pastor Derek Reimer, who was arrested a week ago on allegations of breaching conditions to stop protesting drag queen story hour events after he was charged with mischief and causing a disturbance at Calgary's Seton Library.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2023
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