Fredericton, N.B. – What should have been a night of solidarity against sexual violence turned tense on Friday when Fredericton’s Take Back the Night march was disrupted by harassment and a reported physical altercation. Police are now investigating the incident.
According to Sexual Violence New Brunswick, a group of young men on motorized scooters followed marchers, aggressively yelling and crowding participants. Director Jenn Gorham described their behaviour as “violently, aggressively interacting” with the demonstrators. The march, which has taken place for 40 years without major incidents, was further disrupted outside O’Hickey’s Irish Pub on Queen Street, where a confrontation led to police being called.
Video from the event shows a participant falling out of frame after an altercation, though the moments leading up to it were not captured. The Fredericton Police Force confirmed responding to a call about a fight around 9 p.m. and said the matter remains under active investigation. No charges have been laid.
Community leaders expressed concern about the incident. Antoinette Del Vasto, co-chair of Fredericton Pride, said she was troubled by the hostility directed at marchers: “Hatred is contagious, and I never thought Fredericton would be part of that.”
Some organizers and participants pointed to rising political polarization in the U.S. as influencing attitudes in Canada. “People have become emboldened,” Gorham said, warning of increased aggression toward women, immigrants, and 2SLGBTQ+ community members.
Liberal MLA for Fredericton North, Luka Randall, who attended the event, called the violence “a symptom of a deeper illness” in a Facebook post. He urged the community to confront hate and protect vulnerable groups.
Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers described the events as “discouraging and upsetting” but declined to comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
The annual Take Back the Night event, held across Canada, aims to raise awareness about sexual and gender-based violence, providing space for survivors and allies to reclaim public safety. Organizers say they will not be deterred despite this year’s disruption.
