Residents from across York Region have been rallying behind the local Indigenous Lives Matter movement after a King Township man was charged with mischief and uttering threats in what York Regional Police are calling a hate-motivated incident.
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, York police received multiple reports that lawn signs with the message “Indigenous Lives Matter” had been removed from yards overnight on Main Street and Mill Dam Court in Schomberg.
Some of the signs were found burned in a nearby fairground property, York police said.
Hate crime unit investigators identified a suspect and on Thursday, Aug. 13, with the assistance of emergency response unit officers, executed a warrant at a residence on Main Street. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Daniel Sather, 39, was charged with mischief and uttering threats. He has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on Nov. 24, 2020.
For Schomberg resident Alicia Turner who, on her own initiative ordered the original batch of 15 pairs of lawn signs in solidarity with both the Indigenous and Black lives matter movement mid-June, the incident has spurred increased support for racial justice.
“On some level, it’s a terrible thing that happened and, on another level, it turned into a very good thing,” Turner told NewmarketToday. “People have really rallied, more people want signs, and in some ways it’s been a nice thing in the sense it’s really shown people’s solidarity and support, it’s really encouraging.”
Turner said while it is disturbing that someone is willing to allegedly commit arson and vandalism, people in the community have responded by saying that “racism is not OK in Schomberg and we’re going to defend our Indigenous and Black neighbours here”.
“That feels really nice,” she said.
Turner’s original 15 pairs of lawn signs quickly turned into an additional order for 200 to meet the demand among those throughout York Region, including Newmarket and Aurora.
Newmarket resident and activist Jon Aston volunteered to deliver the signs within the community, and has installed many on local lawns.
York Regional Police does not tolerate hate crime in any form, according to a news release. The local force says those who victimize individuals based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or mental or physical disability will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Anyone with information can contact the York Regional Police #1 District Criminal Investigation Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7141, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online.
