Men described as members of the Proud Boys organization allegedly crashed “Drag Queen Story Hour” at a California library Saturday, according to a press release from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
A group of five men described as Proud Boys allegedly entered the San Lorenzo Library where parents, children and other members of the community were gathered for “Drag Queen Story Hour,” the sheriff’s office release stated. The men also allegedly shouted homophobic and transphobic slurs at the event organizer and were described as extremely aggressive, according to the release. Authorities responded to the incident at around 1:30 p.m. Sunday and de-escalated the situation.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Lt. Ray Kelly said an active hate crime investigation is underway in relation to the incident via the press release. (RELATED: DC Police Investigating Proud Boys Burning Black Lives Matter Banner As A Hate Crime)
Stephanie Magallon, a reporter for the NBC Bay Area, shared a video of the men who allegedly interrupted the event to her Twitter feed. In the video, a group of men can be seen inside the library, with one of them sporting a black and yellow shirt that reads, “Kill Your Local Pedophile.”
WATCH:
The men who stormed into “Drag Queen Story Hour” at the San Lorenzo Library were described as members of the Proud Boys Organization. @ACSOSheriffs says an active hate crime investigation is underway.
Im told this video was taken once the situation was “calmer.” pic.twitter.com/5lJYXWZZkS— Stephanie Magallon (@MagallonNews) June 12, 2022
“Did you guys call the cops?” The man wearing the shirt says to someone off-camera before two men beside him flash the “OK” sign while filming the incident on their phones. The “OK” sign is believed to signal “white power” and is commonly interpreted as a hateful gesture. (RELATED: West Point Determines Cadets Did Not Flash ‘White Power’ Sign During Football Game)
“Two little girls. Two little girls that I support and I love and I will not allow you to take them, nope, get it right,” A man beside the one in the “pedophile” shirt says.
Sunday’s “Drag Queen Story Hour” event at the San Lorenzo Library was hosted by Kyle Chu, who is also known as drag queen Panda Dulce, according to ABC 7 News. The event hosted by Chu was aimed at pre-school-aged children, the outlet reported.
Drag queen events aimed at children have received public scrutiny as of late, with a “Drag Queen Story Hour” for Air Force kids being canceled and Republican Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini announcing that he plans to introduce legislation that would criminalize “drag sex shows” for children.