Community
Fall River Pride Committee to continue Drag Queen Story Time despite protests
Repeated protests by those against Drag Queen Story Time in Fall River will not detour the group who organizes them. In fact, the opposition has appeared to garner more support for the event.
On the morning of December 10th, members of Nationalist Social Club, also known as NSC-131, were outside of the Fall River Public Library on North Main Street protesting Drag Queen Story Time being put on by the Fall River Pride Committee.
According to witnesses, the large group was hurling slurs at those attending and trying to stop people from being present at the story time in the library. Fall River Police also responded to the scene.
It isn’t the first time there have been protests at the event that has been taking place monthly as of late and also a handful of times before the recent string. It was, however, the most violent and the loudest vocal objection.
Photo courtesy of Angel DaCosta
Fall River Reporter asked Mayor Paul Coogan for comment on what transpired on December 10th, and he released a statement shortly after.
“Well, this weekend was full of highs and lows- holiday lights and an illegal mattress dumping, student musicals and a tense situation at the Fall River Public Library on Saturday. This weekend, a group of protestors, who are not from Fall River, traveled here to disturb an event.
“First, I want to thank the Fall River Police Department for handling the situation on the ground and ensuring the safety of our residents. Second, I want to openly and simply condemn the messages that were being shared by the protestors outside of the library. Countless men and women fought bravely in World War II and other conflicts AGAINST the very values those protestors spoke of. Fall River is a diverse city, and I believe we’ve always been better because of that.
“While we do have to respect everyone’s right to protest and use free speech, I feel sick knowing that these individuals- who are not members of our community- came here only to cause chaos and disruption. I think that respectful conversations on different opinions is a good thing, but that is not what this was.
“I have had residents reach out to me because they are upset that the library, a place they love and grew up in, was the home for such a display. I agree- no child going into our library, for any reason or event, should have to witness the hostility, hate and vulgar language that protestors showed this Saturday. To the families, hardworking library staff and event planners who had to deal with the protestors, I am truly sorry.
“Going forward, we will work with the organizers, the library and our public safety officials to keep everyone safe if protestors return. No matter what, we will continue to practice tolerance, respect and love for our neighbors here in Fall River.”
Sean Connell, who heads the Fall River Pride Committee, and supporters of the group, are condemning the December 10th incident and has recently asked those who believe the story time should continue to attend the next story time next month.
“On Saturday, December 10, there was an attempt to disrupt our Drag Queen Story Time. Neo-Nazi group NSC-131 attacked our event volunteers and shouted antisemitic and anti-queer slurs and slogans, while the fascist, misogynistic Proud Boys brought an anti-queer banner and shouted to the other side of the building. This makes the second time in two months that fascist groups have attempted (unsuccessfully) to disrupt the story time, but we are not powerless to protect ourselves. For our next Drag Queen Story Time, please join us in coming together to show your support for the performers, the families, and the library, with a demonstration of solidarity outside the library. There is safety in numbers – and it’s more fun, too! Show up to support on Saturday, January 14! Bring friends, signs, decorations, and plenty of water. Dress for the weather and public health conditions (hats, warm layers, a non-cotton base layer, masks). There will be music!”
If social media is an indicator, support has increased for the Fall River Pride Committee since the large protest.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, “the Nationalist Social Club (NSC) or 131 Crew (131 is alphanumeric code for ACA, Anti-Communist Action and Anti-Capitalist Action) is a neo-Nazi group with small, autonomous regional chapters around the country. Members consider themselves soldiers fighting a war against a hostile, Jewish-controlled system that is deliberately plotting the extinction of the white race. Their goal is to form an underground network of white men who are willing to fight against their perceived enemies through localized direct actions.”
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MortisMaximus
December 31, 2022 at 6:38 pm
No one cares about fat hairy men dressed like sluts and there is no need for these ho’s to give literary presentations to young children. Next we’ll have serial killers giving knife sharpening seminars to mental patients at the last step inn. Men and Women fit together like peanut butter and jelly. No one wants to add mayonnaise into the mix. A Rum and Coke is not a Rum and Coke if you add bleach to it. Stop trying to re-invent convention out of conviction. Be who you want. Do what you want. Have fun at it. We don’t care. Just leave children out of it!
😂😂😂😂😂
January 1, 2023 at 4:36 am
You obviously do care 🤡, you spent all that time whining over nothing.
Cj
January 1, 2023 at 7:04 am
Agreed! They have no place around children. And parents that are ok with this are abusing their children. Why would you allow your precious innocent children to be groomed by these mentally disturbed people…
Accuano
January 2, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Hey maybe we should boycott the Catholic Church they are full of pedophiles too .
Manny
January 1, 2023 at 8:26 am
So you support the nazi presence then?
MortisMaximus
January 1, 2023 at 9:10 am
Wow Manny you really got him there. Because he doesn’t want sexualized deviants confusing his children when their minds can’t comprehend such mass psychosis, he supports Nazis. Since you minimize what the Nazis did by acting like a protest is equivalent to the murder of millions maybe we could say you are anti-semitic, it’s much less of a stretch comparatively. Stop being a mocking bird for the pedophilic agenda and try thinking critically for a few seconds in the New Year.
Ken Masson
January 1, 2023 at 9:38 am
Look at The authoritarians trying to push their narrow fake religious beliefs and their fear over scientific research on everybody. Yes they want to push their ignorance on everybody and they expect everybody to believe what they believe and they’ll start an insurrection to get what they want. They assume that kids are going to become gay and don’t understand that it’s a biological thing and you can’t force anybody to be anything. You can force your children to be depressed if you force them to be what they don’t believe to be what they are and that’s been proven with research and made illegal in most states.
But hey the high school dropouts above who only know how to bully their beliefs on everybody want everybody to believe what they assume. I would love all the religious fascist to prove that any of their bullshit is true.
It’s funny how children raised by same-sex couples come out at the same ratio of straight or gay as children raised by traditional couples. Funny how science works. But hey it’s obvious these people above are either afraid they’re going to become gay if they’re exposed to it because they can’t resist it or they’re already in the closet but their religion prevents them from being what they are.
So are you in the closet MoronMaximus? It’s okay to come out now! People don’t hate on LBGQ people anymore, well not everybody! I’m sure you’ll be triggered now and post multiple long replies because that’s how bullies roll. Your blood starts boiling and you can’t control your anger. But I’ll never fear you. I don’t fear anybody.
And as a Christian child I was always taught that God LOVED ALL of his children. But since Trump is God to these people above you can see why they hate. Extreme right wing fascism!
So when is Lady Lindsay Graham coming out of the closet?????? Never been seen or known to be with a woman and sounds gayer then gay man I’ve ever heard!
Jake Perry
January 1, 2023 at 11:07 am
How homophobic of you Morty
MortisMaximus
January 1, 2023 at 11:08 am
Science? What Science? Science says there are two genders. Psychologists in fasclandia are as delusional as the Messianic one. Bullying? Grow up. Are you 9 years old. The only thing being forced here is the pedophelic agenda. Nature will take care of those who stray outside of her agenda. Two men will never reproduce nor will two women. It takes a man and a woman to create the cornerstone of humanity, a family. Your ridiculous comments mirror rants, mine are just casual conversation based solely in reality. Your emotional ranting characterized by pure confusion shows your fascistic power grab, which will never work on a truly elevated mind. Next your kind will be advocating for the murders of children too small to defend themselves. Oh wait you already do! Stop acting like man is the ultimate being and arbiter of truth. God created you and gave you free will yet you resist his gift by placing yourself in a box blinded by the walls you have erected around yourself. Many ancient cultures sacrificed children to imaginary God’s in the hope that these sacrifices would deliver fertility both agriculturally and societally. Abortion on demand has sacrificed probably 100’s of millions yet we are told we need Bill Gates to scientifically alter the DNA of our food supply to survive. Or the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation offering birth control in Africa because overpopulation and what they label “useless eaters” is a major burden on mother Earth and her scarce resources. In actuality these elitist billionaires are nothing but modern eugenecists. You are the most closed minded person alive. I accept those who are different than I. I enjoy natural diversity. Just because you think something it doesn’t make it true.
Ken Masson
January 1, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Which God out of the thousands that man has created?
MortisMaximus
January 1, 2023 at 4:48 pm
Man has created many Gods but God has created only one mankind!
Gerard J Bisantz
January 4, 2023 at 10:38 am
The recent Boston Globe article made it seem that you, Mr Sean Connell, are the rebirth of Harvey Milk, fighting for gay liberation. I guarantee you, Sean, Drag Queen story hour to 4-7 yr old children was NOT in the minds of the brave men at Stonewall. I realize that there are some bad actors out there from the far Right, but I have NEVER seen such a one-sided article listed as “news.” Anyone reading that would assume that, if you are against drag Queen Story Hour you MUST BE a Neo Nazi of some sort. I assure you that is not the case. This letter is coming from a father with a gay son he loves very much, and a filmmaker whose documentary “Fred and Emile” about two elderly gay men who helped to make gay marriage a reality and was recently shown on WGBH and Rhode Island PBS. These wonderful men are aghast at what you are doing.You sir, are NO her of gay rights. Get a gig at Club Cafe and stay away from young children. I don’t know what your “end game” is, but let them find out (like my son did) for themselves as they age. I wrote a letter to the author of the Gl0be article, but Mr Kool has yet to respond. You can find the Trailer for my film at Breaking Branches Pictures “short films” category, in case you think I am some sort of “hater.” Good day to you, sir!