Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said police responded to a report of a disturbance at the library around 1:30 p.m. and discovered five men “described as members of the Proud Boys.” The men “were described as extremely aggressive with a threatening violent behavior that made people fear for their safety,” the sheriff’s office said. It is not clear whether they are members of the national organization Proud Boys or simply represented themselves as such. The sheriff’s office said that “there is an investigation into active hate crime, as well as an investigation into the harassment and harassment of children.” In an Instagram post first reported by KQED, Dulce said the men also tried to record them on their phones. “It simply came to our notice then. They laughed. “They tried to escalate into violence,” Dulz wrote, adding that the conflict “completely terrified all the children.” In a press release, the sheriff’s office said they escorted the men from the facility. But after leaving the building, Dulce said the group of protesters then proceeded to form a line in an attempt to cut the exit doors to the library. At this point, Dulce returned to the library and completed the reading, which was aimed at preschoolers celebrating Pride Month. “I finally got out. I’m safe. “I will be fine,” Dulce wrote. “The hours of the drag queen story have always seen protesters. And I always received hate messages. “But today it was different.” Yesterday: The Proud Boys stormed the Drag Queen Story Hour at the San Lorenzo Public Library, wearing AK-47 shirts and calling the drag queen “pedophile” and “this.” A right-wing militia was arrested for plotting to attack Pride in Idaho. Immediate effects of political attacks on LGBTQ individuals. – Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) June 12, 2022 Today, 8-10 Proud Boys stormed the Drag Queen Story Time at the San Lorenzo Public Library in the liberal Bay Area, filming, shouting and cursing a bunch of kids who had come to hear a story. The sheriff’s deputies had to accompany them outside. Journalists: send me dm for more information – Dashka Slater (@DashkaSlater) June 12, 2022 Dulce was one of the first drag performers to lead Drag Queen Story Hour when author Michelle Tea pioneered the program in San Francisco in 2015. While the events quickly garnered positive reviews and are intended to encourage open-minded discussion about gender identity between children and their parents, have often been the target of harassment by anti-LGBTQ, far-right extremists who have tried to fool participants and attendees. Saturday’s event was boosted late last month by Libs of TikTok, an influential right-wing social networking account suspended on Instagram, and some of its tweets were removed earlier this week following the publication of event locations focusing on drag for children taking place across the country. A spokesman for the Alameda County Library told SFGATE on Sunday afternoon that it would continue to celebrate Pride Month and offer a similar program. “Libraries are open to all and are places that encourage the integration of all our communities. “Attempts to intimidate and silence others are not tolerated in libraries,” the spokesman said in a statement sent via email. “We are grateful to Panda Dulce for showing courage and resilience and completing the Storytime event. “… We appreciate the support that has come from communities across the Gulf.”
