Far-right party leader faces criminal charges for defacing LGBTQ+ rainbow crossing
Amrit Birring (X/abirring)
A far-right political party leader in Canada is facing criminal charges after posting a video of himself defacing an LGBTQ+ rainbow crosswalk.
Amrit Birring of the Freedom Party of British Columbia posted the video to his X account on 30 May with the caption: “Save your children from pedophilia.”
The footage shows him and another man, identified as Errol Povah by CTV News, using black spray paint to scribble over the rainbow crossing in a Surrey city centre neighbourhood as Creedence Clearwater Revival’s song ‘Fortunate Son’ plays in the background.
Birring then addresses the camera and says: “You need to stand for your children! Otherwise your children will turn into lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, queer. Your daughter will marry another girl! It’s up to you to stop it!”
Povah then rejoins the shot. “Grow some gonads, people,” he says. “Get out here and do stuff like this, because this is tyranny. Not what we’re doing, what the city did. That is tyranny. And when tyranny rules, resistance is duty.”
Birring was promptly arrested after posting the video, CTV News reported. This week, the Surrey Police Service shared that Birring and Povah were both formally charged on 26 June with one count each of mischief over $5,000.
The police also shared that Povah returned to the scene to deface the same crosswalk again just one day after the BC Prosecution Service approved the charge.
Surrey Pride condemned the vandalism in a statement shared at the start of Pride Month.
“Surrey Pride BC stands firmly with our community following the hateful vandalism of the Surrey Central rainbow crosswalk,” the statement reads.
“The damage done to this symbol was not simply an act against paint on pavement. The rainbow crosswalk represents thousands of stories, identities, families, and lives that make Surrey the vibrant and diverse city it is today. It is a symbol of belonging, safety, and the promise that everyone deserves to be seen, valued, and respected.”
It went on to say that while the act was intended to “divide and intimidate”, it instead reminded them of the strength of Surrey’s LGBTQ+ community.
“Every attempt to erase us is met with greater visibility. Every act of hatred is met with deeper solidarity. Every effort to push people into the shadows is answered by people stepping proudly into the light.”
The organisation also praised the City of Surrey officials for taking swift action. “Accountability matters,” it said. “So does community.”
