Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri is praising the Peterborough Police Service for arresting a man accused of hurling homophobic slurs and burning a Pride flag — a move that drew the ire of some social media users who condemned her as a “fake” Conservative.

A 48-year-old man was arrested last week on two charges of criminal harassment after he was accused of stealing a Pride flag, burning it and — according to police — “screaming” anti-gay epithets.

The arrest demonstrates that “hate has no place in our community and our country and will not be tolerated,” Ferreri said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.

Dozens of social media users responded to Ferreri’s praise of the arrest with a stream of homophobic slurs. Others said the man’s arrest was unjustified and that as a member of a party that supports free speech, Ferreri was out of line.

One social media user, Shawn Quenneville, told Ferreri in an online post that “they’re pedophiles” — an apparent reference to members of the LGBTQ community.

  • vithigar@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    Others said the man’s arrest was unjustified and that as a member of a party that supports free speech, Ferreri was out of line.

    So because she is expected to support free speech there are opinions she’s not permitted to express? Incredible.

    • psvrh@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      So because she is expected to support free speech there are opinions she’s not permitted to express? Incredible.

      Yes. That’s the point of conservatism. Free speech for the in-group, oppression for the out-group.

      You have to remember Wilhoit’s Law: Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.