Ezra Levant ejects elderly women singing ‘O Canada’ from Rebel Media rally

Looks like Ezra Levant’s staged rallies aren’t as glorious and free as he’d lead you to believe.

One week ago, the alt-right Rebel Media website owner threw a Twitter temper tantrum claiming “freedom of speech” was at stake after his followers were criticized for directing chants of “lock her up” at Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

Levant’s chanting followers were denounced by Wildrose leader Brian Jean and called “ridiculous” by PC leadership hopeful Jason Kenney – interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose even called them “idiots.”

But this week, after declaring he’ll let “Albertans say whatever they want” at his next rally, Levant ordered hotel security to eject a small group of elderly women who sang the national anthem and performed humourous Christmas carols.

Many highlights from the rally. I won’t lie: my favorite was hearing a room of 1,000 Albertans booing the NDP Raging Grannies out the door!

— Ezra Levant ?? (@ezralevant) December 12, 2016

Seriously @ezralevant? You kicked out the Raging Grannies? Unbelievable. https://t.co/Faid9K56nw

— Trevor Robb (@SunTrevorRobb) December 11, 2016

Ezra is a freedom of speech warrior until he removes Raging Grannies to silence any dissenting views. https://t.co/voRtAGelrc

— B D Hone (@BlairCalgary) December 12, 2016 

Video streamed live by Rebel Media shows Levant denouncing the group of elderly women, some in their eighties, to his jeering followers and calling on hotel security to have them physically removed from the property:

“So, I’d like my friends to gently escort out the NDP extremists who’ve come to disrupt our event … While Rachel Notley’s dirty tricksters attempt to disrupt our meeting, I’d like hotel security to ask Rachel Notley’s dirty tricksters to leave.”

Ironic too, considering Levant and Rebel Media are known to crash other people’s events.

But the Raging Grannies, who describe themselves as a “non-partisan activist group who use humour and song to comment on current events,” say they aren’t “NDP extremists” – but they’re “definitely pro-Canada”:

“We started singing ‘O Canada’ and were still singing it as we were ushered out by hotel staff and security guards. We’re definitely pro-Canada.”

Susan Stratton of the Calgary Raging Grannies flatly denies Levant’s unsubstantiated accusation that the group of elderly protesters are a “New Democrat brigade” or were in some way dispatched by the Premier of Alberta to disrupt the event.

“Ezra Levant apparently grabbed the opportunity to twist our presence” to fit his agenda, Stratton told PressProgress, adding that the Raging Grannies generally “support the things we like that the government is doing and oppose those we don’t like.”

Stratton added that her group believes “climate change is a crucially serious matter that demands action” and were simply exercising their constitutional right to sing “pro-carbon tax songs” set “to the tune of a Christmas carol”:

“We have written several pro-carbon tax songs, believing the many prominent economists – and petroleum producers – who say that the carbon tax is the most efficient and effective way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.”

Levant also boasts an impressive track record for making false statements.

During a 2014 defamation lawsuit, Levant’s lawyer argued his client’s words should not be taken literally due to his tendency to be “provocative” and “make outlandish comments.” An Ontario Superior Court judge disagreed and ordered Levant pay $80,000 in damages.

Here are a few other highlights from the event:

Death threats, noose on hockey stick, opponents kicked out … Calgary Rebel Media rally another goon show: https://t.co/wDOQPz58Y9 #Ableg

— David Climenhaga (@djclimenhaga) December 12, 2016

Sask. MP Brad Trost denies climate change and gets standing ovation. Sigh. Embarrassed to be in the same province. https://t.co/pJcWVChUJB

— Dr. Alec Couros (@courosa) December 12, 2016

I’m honestly surprised it took Derek Fildebrandt this long to start saying “Make Alberta Great Again” #ableg

— Mack Lamoureux (@MackLamoureux) December 11, 2016

@calxandr comparing his being voted out as MP to O&G workers losing jobs due to economy. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? #ableg

— Kyle Bourke (@KyleBourke87) December 11, 2016

Bernard the Roughneck said he threw show at Legislature should throw show at media #YYC

— Josie Lukey (@JosieLukey) December 11, 2016

We sent a reporter to cover the rally and report on what was said. Which she did: https://t.co/zG13E6Az4x . And she got this: pic.twitter.com/hYqhmx42pP

— Rob Breakenridge (@RobBreakenridge) December 12, 2016

Jailing protestors, hacking the government, advocating violence against media … this rally has it all. #ableg #cdnpoli https://t.co/S5JuDMkWAC

— Kathleen Smith (@KikkiPlanet) December 11, 2016

^{Photo: Rebel Media.}