Police presence was requested by administration at the University of Toronto (U of T) last week for a planned event by Canadian Association For Equality (CAFE). The Oct. 9 event, titled “Violence and Sexual Abuse Against Men,” was a lecture delivered by therapist Lynne MacDonell.
CAFE self-describes as an organization that focuses on “the status, health and well-being of boys and men,” but has been described by opponents as a men’s rights organization. This lecture was one in a series of campus events across the province, many of which have faced massive protests.
Justin Trottier, spokesperson for CAFE, said some of the more controversial events do cause protests in the community.
“Some of our prior events reached five or six hundred people . . . and because of the more high visibility nature of those issues, they both tend to get more attendance, but also you do get a small minority of people who are drawn to the event not to respectfully challenge and ask questions, but to disrupt the event and engage in acts that are sometimes dangerous.”
Trottier said at past events protesters have set off fire alarms and blocked exits.
According to the media advisory on CAFE’s website before the event, “CAFE’s history of events highlighting provocative but overlooked facts that challenge ideological feminism have led to massive protests.”
“Militants have disrupted events, pulled fire alarms and harassed members of the public, in contravention of University policies and the laws,” the advisory reads.
The group has ties to American organization A Voice For Men (AVFM) that is widely considered to be a men’s rights organization promoting hate speech against women. CAFE has repeatedly denied these claims.
However, the event at U of T proceeded smoothly, despite worries about possible protests, according to Trottier.
“About a week before the event we met with the university administration at U of T and they explained to us the concerns and obviously we agreed to co-operate fully,” he said.
According to a media advisory, the university agreed to absorb the costs for security.
Ryerson student Alexander Waddling has protested at CAFE events in the past, and said that his main issue with CAFE is misinformation that spreads. CAFE recently opened a men’s health centre on the Ryerson campus.
“The biggest issue with them is how they’ve appropriated issues that are genuine, but created false cause . . . Yes, men commit suicide more often, and get hurt at work more, etc, but blaming feminism? Hell no. Because of poorly informed men who want an avenue to discuss these issues they see, they seek out opportunities to discuss, and CAFE finds them,” he said.
Trottier said that approximately 75 people attended the event, noting that it went well.
“It was a great event, our speaker was every eloquent and we had a really good question and answer and discussion with the public. I think it went very well,” he said.
