A group affiliated with Pride staged a demonstration outside the Cambridge city hall, urging the mayor to step down following an incident where she disrupted a speech by 17-year-old Sophie Mills at a city-sponsored Pride event. According to Bryan Causarano-Bolton, co-founder of Grand River Pride, the mayor did not offer an apology or take responsibility for the incident. Around 100 demonstrators gathered at Lower Main St. in the Galt area before marching to Cambridge City Hall.
Members of the protest included Sophie Mills’ family, with her father Ben Mills expressing frustration over the mayor’s interruption of the planned speech. The group is pushing for the integrity commissioner to hold the mayor accountable for breaching the Municipal Code of Conduct and infringing on Mills’ freedom of expression. Additionally, they demanded Mayor Liggett’s resignation, a sentiment echoed by former mayor Kathryn McGarry, who condemned the mayor’s actions.
The protest outside city hall called for Mayor Liggett to address the crowd, emphasizing concerns about the safety of LGBTQ+ youth in the community and the abuse of power to silence them. The incident that sparked the protest involved Mayor Liggett interrupting Sophie Mills’ speech when she mentioned a controversial social media post by Councilor Adam Cooper. Liggett requested Mills to omit that part of the speech, citing it as disrespectful and unhelpful.
In response to the backlash, Liggett released a video addressing the situation where she emphasized the need for understanding, forgiveness, and progress. Despite the calls for an apology from Grand River Pride, Liggett stated that any potential apology would be a private matter between herself and Mills. The group has expressed difficulties in establishing transparency with the city administration regarding Cooper’s reprimand and sensitivity training.
The incident has sparked significant community outrage and demands for accountability, with protesters adamant about the need for the mayor to take responsibility for her actions. The situation remains tense as calls for Liggett’s resignation intensify, with ongoing discussions revolving around the importance of freedom of expression and respect within the community.