Jagmeet Singh met by protesters hurling expletives in Peterborough

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was verbally harassed on Wednesday at a campaign event in Peterborough, Ont.

Singh was in the city to show support for Jen Deck, NDP candidate for Peterborough-Kawartha, in the provincial election slated for June 2.

According to KawarthaNow, Singh said that “it’s a great honour to be here” and asked the crowd to give a round of applause to Deck. “Jen is an education worker, and education workers are so fundamental to building a good society.”

Having been warmly welcomed by her supporters, Singh also faced a crowd of protesters yelling obscenities at him.

On social media videos, they can be heard saying “You’re a traitor” and “You’re a piece of shit,” while others tell him to go “fuck himself” as he was leaving Deck’s storefront space to a waiting SUV. Some held up their middle finger to him.

What precisely the crowd was protesting wasn’t entirely clear, though the word “freedom” can be heard.

Singh said politicians who stoke divisiveness are partly at fault for such vocal protests, but didn’t name names.

“There is a responsibility that politicians play who purposely flame these divisions or purposefully spread misinformation,” Singh added.

Some on social media believed the crowd was there for racist reasons, others that the anger was purely over political concerns. Many tweeted to say that the actions of a few do not represent their city.