The man at the centre of a controversial incident that took place at Niagara Regional Council says he wants to clear the air.
Activist and Fort Erie resident, Fred Bracken reached out to CKTB saying that he was being misrepresented in the media following the December meeting.
Prior to the start of the meeting St. Catharines resident Mohammad Al Jumaily claims he was called a terrorist by Bracken.
It's the motivation and what's behind the name calling that Bracken says is being misrepresented.
Bracken doesn't deny calling Jumaily a terrorist or telling him to 'go home" but says the comments have nothing to do with race at all. He says it's all about free speech.
The incident drew a lot of attention, with some saying the Chair of the Region should have stepped in and Welland Councillor Paul Grenier called the incident a hate crime.
Bracken reached out to CKTB saying he went to the meeting to 'slam' some councillors over a vote taking place that night, and called them terrorists for 'trying to destroy free speech.'
A woman that was in council chambers at the time is also sharing her story from that evening.
You can read Erika's statement at the very bottom of this article.
Here is Fred Bracken's statement.
On December 14th 2017, I attended the Regional Council meeting to slam every single councillor there who was going to vote down the new revised code of conduct which made it clear that politicians have their own time and are not always subject to the code of conduct.
When I first attended, I started calling all the councillors terrorists for trying to destroy free speech. There were 3 people in the audience other than me. 2 were Erika Furney and her husband.
When I was giving my two cents worth to Bruce Timms, this dude, who turns out to be named Muhammed, started running outside the chambers into the hallway.
Once in the hallway, this Muhmmaed character starting telling the rent a cop to arrest me for breaching the peace and causing a disturbance.
Since I have already been arrested and trespassed, and had to sue to the Region, I took great offence to this guy wanting me arrested for my free speech.
So I called this dude a terrorist just like I as calling out all the councillors as terrorists as well.
The reference to ' go home' was simply what I say to people who are white and who hate free speech. If you don't like Canada and our culture of free speech, go home. There was nothing racist about it.
Fred Bracken
Here is Erika's statement:
My husband Greg and I attended the Regional Council meeting on Dec. 14th.
We met Fred Bracken in the front foyer as we entered the Regional Headquarters.
Fred was visibly agitated, trying to get the Regional councillors attention as they crossed the front entrance to the council chambers; posing the same questions to all of them, would they support Andy Petrowski, so his pay wouldn’t be suspended?
The councillors refused to answer Fred’s question.
Fred addressed their silence by calling them terrorists, loudly stating that all Petrwoski was trying to do was defend free speech.
Fred added, “So if you don’t vote in favour of Andy Petrowski that means you don’t believe in free speech.” “That makes you a terrorist.”
Greg advised Fred to settle down.
I’m not sure if Fred even heard him because he was so high strung searching for the next councillor, so he could pose the same question to them and repeat the same response to them when they too refused to answer him.
Salina Volpatti entered the foyer and came over to say hello to me and Greg. We exchanged a few pleasantries.
As she went to enter the chambers Fred asked her if she would be supportive of Andy Petrowski or see him on the street (penniless) if he was not reinstated at the Region with pay.
Ms. Volpatti just ignored him and entered the chambers. Fred called her a terrorist. I followed Ms. Volpatti into the chamber and took a seat right next to the media table.
When I looked up I saw Mohammad enter the chambers with Fred right behind him asking if he believed in free speech.
Mohammad refused to answer him. Fred called him a terrorist.
Fred exited the chambers.
Mohammad looked around the chambers, saw me and walked over to ask if I was alone?
I responded that my husband was with me and would be coming to take a seat before the meeting started.
He asked if I and my husband would sit behind him when he gave his speech; I assured him we would do that for him and we kept our promise.
Mohammad explained that he could only find one friend, who was supportive of his effort and the two had come by bus.
Fred had confronted Mohammad’s friend, shortly after I took my seat, he also refused to engage with Fred when he posed the free speech question to him.
As Fred turned away from him he called him a terrorist too. Fred left the chambers for a while and then reappeared yet again.
Facing the Regional councillors he called them all terrorists as he filmed them, stating something about Andy Petrowski (which I can’t remember).
Mohammad who had been pacing back and forth in the same vicinity of the chamber (immediately to the right when you enter), suddenly looked up and stated, “He called me a terrorist.” Dead silence fell throughout the chamber.
I felt bad for Mohammad. I responded , “He’s calling everyone a terrorist, it’s nothing personal.” Selina Volpatti looked across the chambers at me when I made this comment.
I then saw Allan Benner stand up and take several pictures across the room to capture a picture of Mohammad, Fred Bracken (who had reappeared) and Bruce Timms.
Fred retorted to Mohammad, “Well call the police.” “We have free speech, you don’t like it, go home.”
Everyone looked to the front directly at Chair Caslin, who said that he could not offer assistance because the meeting had not started. Councillor Grenier raised his voice and said, “It’s a hate crime.” Councillor Marshall approached me to ask if I felt threatened in regards to what was going on. I responded, “It’s Fred, that’s what he does, I have no concerns.