Rep. Swalwell condemns Proud Boys who disrupted local Pride event; 'have nothing to be proud of'
SAN LORENZO (KGO) -- East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) held a roundtable discussion with local LGBTQ+ activists Thursday morning at the San Lorenzo library, to talk about a recent children's book reading event in honor of Pride Month, which was disrupted by the far-right group, Proud Boys.
"To the Proud Boys, what I tell you today after talking to this group - you have nothing to be proud of for what you did to children. It would be a compliment to call you boys because you acted like babies," says Swalwell.
In attendance were members of the San Lorenzo and county library staff, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, and members from the AAPI community, in a show of unity.
The conversation focused on threats faced by the local LGBTQ+ community and the work being done by the sheriff's department in this case.
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Swalwell shared an exchange he had with a high school student.
"He said it was pretty terrifying to see the Proud Boys go from the Capital to our local library. This is no longer just something that is at the highest level that they are targeting. They are now targeting people in every community," says Swalwell.
Last Saturday, members of the white nationalist group disrupted Drag Queen Story Hour, a book reading event held across the country.
Bay Area Drag Queen, Panda Dulce, was reading to a small group of young children from the book "Families. Families. Families!" With lines that read, "Some children's parents are married. Some children's parents are not," it uses animals to showcase all kinds of non-traditional families.
RELATED: Drag queen speaks out after far-right extremists storm children's event at Bay Area library
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office says when the Proud Boys showed up, they shouted homophobic and transphobic slurs at Dulce, even calling her a pedophile.
Billy Bradford, who is co-founder of Castro Valley Pride, attended the roundtable discussion.
"There are plenty of faith leaders, athletic coaches, youth counselors, and sadly, boy scout troop leaders, who are the pedophiles (the Proud Boys) are looking for. But that's not who they attack," says Bradford. "That's not what they go after. You won't find the Proud Boys going to a Catholic church."
The sheriff's office says it identified and spoke to several of the Proud Boys members, but no charges have been filed. It says it is a matter of free speech versus hate speech.
RELATED: 'They came to riot': Members of white supremacist group arrested near Idaho pride event, police say
Alameda County librarian, Cindy Chadwick, says these types of meetings are critical so that elected leaders know what's happening in their communities.
"I think all politics is local. And, we are who make up the American people - small communities. It is important to know that these things that happen, matter," Chadwick says.
Mayor Lily Mei from nearby Fremont was also on hand. She is calling for a united front against all forms of hate and discrimination.
"(This is) unexpected in a smaller city, and I think that's why it is more important than ever that we stand in solidarity with neighboring cities," says Mayor Mei.
The library isn't backing down. They now plan to host Pride events every month through the end of the year, with extra security on hand.
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