Activists Afraid of Debate Pressure Event Hosts in Alberta - #Secede
Opponents of provincial autonomy target venues hosting Alberta independence tour
Opponents of provincial autonomy target venues hosting Alberta independence tour
(Rebel News) - Left-wing anti-independence activists are escalating pressure on venues hosting the Alberta Independence Tour, a series of live events organised by Rebel News focused on questions of autonomy, governance and Alberta’s place, if any, within Confederation. The tour, detailed on IndependenceTour.com, will stop in Mirror, Red Deer, Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray, Westlock and Grande Prairie this winter and spring.
The Independence Tour is a chance for “straight talk, real debate, and face-to-face discussion” with speakers including Rebel News Alberta Bureau Chief Sheila Gunn Reid, Western Standard’s Cory Morgan, and Rebel News journalist and Freedom Convoy participant, Tamara Lich with audience Q&A and book signings planned.
In recent days, some venue operators have reported coordinated campaigns by local activists opposed to the tour’s political message. Those campaigns reportedly include mass emails to venue management and social media appeals urging cancellations or threatening…
Now if we can keep Trump quiet about it then it might happen and we need that oil more than china cuz we have it piped straight to our refinery so it’s ready to go
Alberta may find some remedies here
AI Overview
In 2018 and 2020, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), led by Rev. Franklin Graham, successfully sued in British courts after venues and advertising services in England and Scotland canceled contracts for his "Graham Tour" and "Lancashire Festival of Hope." Opponents, including LGBTQ+ activists and local politicians, pressured organizations to remove advertisements from buses and cancel arena bookings due to Graham's traditional views on marriage and sexuality.
Key details regarding the legal victories include:
Bus Advertising Victory (Blackpool, England): In April 2021, a UK judge ruled that Blackpool Council and Blackpool Transport Services discriminated against the BGEA on the basis of religious beliefs by removing bus advertisements for the 2018 Lancashire Festival of Hope. The court found this action violated the Equality Act 2010 and violated rights to freedom of expression. Blackpool apologized and paid £84,000 for legal fees and £25,000 in damages.
Venue Cancellations Victory (Glasgow, Scotland): In October 2022, a Scottish court ruled that the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow wrongfully discriminated against the BGEA by canceling a 2020 booking at the SSE Hydro. Sheriff John McCormick stated that the venue "bowed to public pressure" and failed to demonstrate that the event would cause a public safety issue. The SEC was ordered to pay over £100,000 (approx. $111,000) in damages.
Wider Legal Outcomes: Following the successful lawsuits, which covered multiple cities including Liverpool, Sheffield, and Birmingham, the BGEA was able to move forward with their rescheduled "God Loves You" tour in the UK.
Graham characterized the court victories as a significant win for religious freedom and free speech in the UK, asserting that Christians should not be discriminated against for their beliefs.