Assault at Hamilton’s Take Back the Night march deemed a hate crime

Hamilton police say an assault that took place at a march against gender-based violence last month has now been deemed a hate crime.

Officers were present at the Take Back the Night march in the downtown core around 8:25 p.m. on Sept. 21 when multiple women approached them to report that a man had assaulted one of the female participants.

Investigators say the man attempted to grab the woman’s sign and when he was unsuccessful, he assaulted her.

In a video shared by the woman to social media, the man can be seen ripping the banner that read “decriminalize sex work” and “rights not rescue” out of the hands of Jelena Vermilion, executive director of Sex Workers’ Action Program.

Vermilion can then be seen pursuing the man before violently falling to the ground and being dragged while holding onto the banner.

I am uploading this video as there will not likely be mainstream media coverage of it. I was attacked at the @SACHAhamont Take Back The Night march tonight in #HamOnt @CityofHamiton. Thank you to SACHA for their support #TBTN

The man goes directly for our sex work banner, rips… pic.twitter.com/JujBPcsCr3

— TS Jelena Vermilion – FULLY VACCINATED x5 MPx2 (@IsisIntrepid) September 22, 2023

Chants of “who keeps us safe? We keep us safe” could be heard in the crowd as a police siren approached the scene.

Officers say the 29-year-old man, who remains unnamed, has been charged with level one assault.

On Friday, the incident was classified as a hate crime following an investigation by Hamilton police’s hate crime unit.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the division one staff sergeant at 905-546-4725.

The annual Take Back the Night event is hosted by Hamilton’s sexual assault centre, SACHA.

READ MORE: Hate crime investigation launched in assault at Take Back the Night: Hamilton police