A police volunteer group says it will no longer fundraise for the YWCA Hamilton following critical comments from an activist made at an awards gala last month.

One of the honourees at the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards on Mar. 7 used her acceptance speech to criticize police brutality.

But her words left current and former Hamilton Police Service members feeling unwelcome.

Project First To Respond has raised more than $131,000 to support the YWCA Hamilton in the last three years.

But now the police group is taking its support elsewhere after critical comments made by Jelena Vermillion when she was awarded for her work by the YWCA at a gala in March.

“I was not really shocked, I was more dumbfounded that they can make such a counterintuitive and demonstrably harmful choice,” Vermillion said.

Vermilion – who is the executive director of a local program that supports sex workers – used her speech to highlight violence against trans women, sometimes involving police.

“I also would like you to take a moment to just consider the people who are not here. I think of Chevranna Abdi, a sex worker in 2003 who lost her life from police interaction. I think of other sex workers in town. I think of the woman who was attacked last year,” Vermillion said in her speech.

Chevranna Abdi, a 26-year-old black woman, died during a police arrest in Hamilton in 2003. An inquest found the cause was an accidental drug poisoning.

Vermillion, along with several other women, were attacked last year at a rally against sexual violence. The man was later charged with assault.

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

And back in 2021, a Hamilton police officer was charged with assault after a video showed him lunging at Vermillion. In 2022 he pled guilty to discreditable conduct.

“I experience, throughout my life, different forms of police violence,” Vermillion said.

A member of Project First To Respond did not mention Vermillion’s comments specifically but Hamilton police Sgt. Alexis Petrovic told CHCH News in an email that the committee will consider financially supporting other worthy organizations in the community that support women and children.

She added that the group of first responders has poured their heart and souls into this cause, and that several of the committee volunteers attended the YWCA Women Of Distinction Awards, but the tenor of the evening left the volunteers feeling disheartened and unwelcome.

READ MORE: 48th annual Women of Distinction Awards held in Hamilton

This story was first reported by CBC Hamilton and spurred heated debate online with several politicians weighing in.

Ward 8 Councillor John-Paul Danko posted a scathing response to comments made at the award ceremony by two recipients saying, “While I just dismiss them as ungrateful, self righteous, toddlers with a microphone… I’ll continue supporting the YWCA Hamilton… but certainly won’t be at future events either.”

The statement was deleted shortly after with Danko writing, “I sincerely apologize and will strive to do better in the future.”

Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch rushed to Vermillion’s defence, writing “What Jelena said was brave, true to herself, and her personal opinion. Jelena didn’t say anything defamatory or untrue, based on what I heard.”

In a statement sent to CHCH News via email, the YWCA Hamilton’s CEO said the organization is disappointed that Project First To Respond has made this decision.

She added that Vermillion’s words are her own and the YWCA does not censor or screen acceptance speeches.

Finally, she ended her note on the message that YWCA Hamilton stands with women, girls and gender diverse people in their many expressions of leadership.