The mayors of several major Canadian cities are adding their voice to the growing backlash against a controversial American blogger who’s behind a series of men’s meetups planned for this weekend.
The so-called “pick-up artist” Daryush Valizadeh, known online as “Roosh V,” also runs the website Return of Kings, which is described as a forum for “heterosexual, masculine men.”
An international Return of Kings meetup day is scheduled to take place in 43 countries around the globe, including 10 Canadian cities, on Saturday.
On Tuesday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson took to Twitter to publically tell Return of Kings supporters that their “pro-rape, misogynistic, homophobic garbage is not welcome in Ottawa.”
.@ReturnofKings Your pro-rape, misogynistic, homophobic garbage is not welcome in Ottawa #its2016 #TurnAwayReturnOfKings
— Jim Watson (@JimWatsonOttawa) February 2, 2016
Watson is also asking venues in the city to deny renting space to the group to hold the meetup.
A number of other Canadian mayors quickly followed suit and decried the meetings.
What he said. Goes double for Calgary. Thanks for your leadership on this, Jim. https://t.co/xyD7T1o1wA
— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) February 2, 2016
No place for intolerance, hatred & misogyny in Toronto. I'm with you @nenshi @jimwatsonottawa #TurnAwayReturnofKings https://t.co/ys8FWjN8js
— John Tory (@JohnTory) February 2, 2016
#Wpg has no place for the violent views espoused by @ReturnOfKings. Deeply disturbed by Mr Valizadeh's statements #TurnAwayReturnOfKings 1/2
— Mayor Brian Bowman (@Mayor_Bowman) February 2, 2016
#TurnAwayReturnOfKings pic.twitter.com/0v2xbNCr47
— Van Mayor's Office (@VanMayorsOffice) February 2, 2016
Hatred and misogyny have absolutely no place in Vancouver or anywhere else in this world #TurnAwayReturnOfKings https://t.co/Xlbia4YjfH
— Gregor Robertson (@MayorGregor) February 3, 2016
Watson is also asking venues in the city to deny renting space to the group to hold the meetup.
A number of other Canadian mayors quickly followed suit and decried the meetings.
The Canadian meetings are apparently scheduled for Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Surrey, B.C, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg and Windsor.
Tenets of the “neomasculinity” beliefs promoted on the blog include the notion that a woman’s value depends on her fertility and beauty. Among some of Valizadeh’s most controversial writings includes a blog post where he wrote that rape should be “made legal on private property.”