Peter LaBarbera has returned to the U.S. days early, immediately following his release from jail. The head of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality was initially denied entry into Canada on grounds that he was likely to break Canada’s stringent hate speech laws. After assuring border authorities that he would not, LaBarbera spoke at a anti-abortion conference in Weyburn then was arrested on “mischief” charges for refusing to leave a university where he and a fellow anti-choice activist were protesting amongst four-foot tall signs depicting aborted fetuses and an anti-gay sign that read “sodomy is sin.”
LaBarbera left a nasty wake.
The city council of Weyburn yesterday voted to shut down a program designed to bring tourism into their city, after it was learned the anti-choice conference LaBarbera headlined had applied for and been given a $1000 grant. Weyburn Mayor Debra Button, according to one local report, “cringes at the recent controversy in her city and the attention it has attracted.”
“Is this light we really want shone nationally and internationally on Weyburn? Of course not.”
Button thinks the community has come together as a result of the backlash against LaBarbera’s visit.
LaBarbera was scheduled to speak at the University of Saskatchewan yesterday but canceled that event and headed home. He has a court date back in Canada on May 26, assuming they let him back in.
The Southern Poverty Law Center lists LaBarbera’s group, Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, as an anti-gay hate group.
LaBarbera did manage to get some angry tweeting in upon his release from jail.
Spent the night in a #Canadian jail cell b/c I spoke out against abortion and homosexuality–at a public university (U. Regina). #tcot #p2
— Peter LaBarbera (@PeterLaBarbera) April 15, 2014
Actually, he spent the night in jail after being arrested for refusing to leave a university campus.
“Hate speech” laws are a tool of the Left and antithetical to liberty: #Canada @jmattbarber #tcot #Christian #sgp #p2. #gop
— Peter LaBarbera (@PeterLaBarbera) April 16, 2014
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Its great to be back on USA soil. Even tho our freedoms are under siege by the Left, we are still freer thn most countries, inc Canada #tcot
— Peter LaBarbera (@PeterLaBarbera) April 15, 2014
Image: Screenshot via CBC News