Proud Boys descend on San Lorenzo

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Unidentified members of the right-wing extremist group The Proud Boys disrupted a LGBT Pride month event for youths at the San Lorenzo Public Library on Saturday

COUNTY NEWS

SAN LORENZO

—PROUD BOYS IN SLZ—Alameda County elected officials strongly condemned the attempt over the weekend by members of the right-wing extremist group known as The Proud Boys to disrupt a youth event at the San Lorenzo Public Library. The event, called the “Drag Queen Story Hour,” was organized to celebrate Pride month.

—“We strongly condemn this act of hate aimed at harming members of our community and our allies. We are living in a time where LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across several states in our nation, and sadly, even accepting and welcoming places like Alameda County are not exempt from this type of hate. Hate has no place in our community and must be met with decisive action,” wrote Chabot-Las Positas Community College Trustee Harris Mojadedi in a letter signed by 20th Assembly District candidate Shawn Kumagai, BART Board Director Rebecca Saltzman, and Berkeley Councilmembers Lori Droste and Terry Taplin, among others.

—Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan later signed on to the letter. If elected in November, Kaplan would represent San Lorenzo on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

—The group of LGBT officials also called on the Alameda County District Attorney to charge the individuals involved in the incident with hate crimes.

—The reported 8-10 males were identified by Alameda County sheriff’s deputies as members of the Proud Boys. “The men began to shout homophobic and transphobic slurs at the event organizer. The men were described as extremely aggressive with a threatening violent demeanor causing people to fear for their safety,” said Lt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

—Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the library at around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and de-escalated the situation. “An active hate crime investigation is underway as is an investigation into the annoying and harassing of children,” Kelly said.

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