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Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Israelis aren't a race': Aussies explode in anger after Victorian hairdresser allegedly calls Israeli customer ‘genocidal baby killer' and boots him out of store
The owner of a Victorian hair salon who claimed she was a supporter of inclusion and diversity has been slammed by furious Aussies after she allegedly called an Israeli customer a 'genocidal baby killer' and kicked him out of her store after the customer revealed that he had served in the Israeli military. Katrina Ann Smith, the owner of Juniper Salon in Melbourne's southeast, has found herself in hot water after she allegedly kicked an Israeli customer out of her store last Monday. The customer said that upon Ms Smith hearing his Middle Eastern accent, she asked where he was from - and that when he told her he was Israeli, she allegedly labelled him a 'genocidal baby killer' and marched him out of the store. 'She heard my accent and asked where are you from? I said 'I'm from Israel' and she said you can leave. Once I left, she called me a baby killer and she closed the door,' the man told Rebel News. The man said the ordeal was 'crazy' and that he only wanted someone to cut his 'curly hair.' Rebel News' Australian correspondent Avi Yemini visited the embattled store late last week to ask Smith why she allegedly evicted the man from her store, and if she regretted her actions. Despite Yemini making a booking to have his hair cut, Smith ordered him to get out of her store. She also admitted to booting the Israeli man out of her salon due to the fact he served in the Israel Defence Force. 'You're not here to have a haircut, you're here to hassle me, because they were a baby killer, now f*** off, f*** off,' Smith said. Yemini questioned Smith if she 'always asked people with ethnic accents where they come from' and asked her if she knew it was 'against the law to kick someone out based on their nationality.' Smith told Yemini to 'get out' and said he had booked the appointment under 'false pretences." She also attempted to shut the door on him and block him from entering the establishment. 'Israelis aren't a race,' Smith said. The owner then called the police and said a 'Middle Eastern looking man' had a camera and was harassing her customers and staff and urged them to 'hurry up.' A long-time customer, who was getting her hair done at the time of the altercation, said that her mother was Israeli and stated she would 'not be comfortable' if Smith had booted an Israeli customer out of her store. 'I'm actually Jewish and my mum's Israeli, I have no idea what's going on. I hope it's not true because I would not be comfortable here if that were true,' the woman said. 'I've been coming here for several years and my hairdresser is lovely and she was very supportive after October 7. I don't know the owner, it's a confusing world we are in. The woman said she wasn't aware of Smith's views and added that the shocking revelations 'will definitely impact the way I feel about being here.' 'I don't have an accent but my mums Israeli and I'm proud of my heritage,' she said. Despite the Racial Discrimination Act and Equal Opportunity Act outlawing discrimination on the basis of race and nationality, Smith said her actions were 'not' against the law and added she had booted people out of her store on the basis of nationality before.
Montreal Gazette
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Montreal church to be slapped with fine after hosting pro-Trump singer without permit, city says
By The City of Montreal says it will issue a fine to the church that hosted Sean Feucht, a pro-Trump Christian singer, on Friday night, after warning the venue in advance it did not have the proper permit for a concert. A spokesperson for Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said a statement of offence will be handed to Église MR, where Feucht performed as part of his 'Revive in 25' tour. Catherine Cadotte said the church defied a warning from borough inspectors, who had visited the Spanish-speaking church on Roy St. with Montreal police earlier in the day. 'The church did not have a permit to organize a concert,' she said. 'A statement of offence will be issued since the organization violated the regulations.' Asked by The Gazette if that includes a monetary fine, she replied: 'Yes.' Before the event, however, Feucht told media 'this not a performance, it's a church service.' Feucht, who is outspoken about his support for U.S. President Donald Trump and a former worship leader, has drawn criticism across Canada for his views on abortion, gender identity and LGBTQ2+ rights. Before Friday's event began, several police officers briefly entered the church, but later confirmed the show would proceed. As Feucht's supporters began arriving, local activists gathered in front of the church, chanting anti-Trump and anti-fascism slogans. It sparked a heavy police presence. Montreal Police is entering the church where Christian singer Sean Feucht is due to perform. The city of Montreal has said it must not go ahead due to not having the right permits. — Harry North (@hsnorth_) July 25, 2025 At least one protester was arrested. A second confrontation, involving a journalist from Rebel News, prompted police to intervene and separate the crowd. Inside the church, a few dozen people sang and prayed while a row of police officers kept watch outside. The protest crowd outside the church had thinned by 8:30 p.m. The Montreal concert followed a string of cancellations across Canada. Cities including Halifax, Charlottetown, Quebec City and Vaughan pulled permits, citing public safety concerns. In Miramichi, N.B., a last-minute concert held at a private campground drew criticism from the property's owners, who said the event was unauthorized and 'not aligned with our values.' Montreal Police quickly intervene between a counter-protester to the Sean Feucht concert and the Rebel News team — Harry North (@hsnorth_) July 25, 2025 Feucht has framed the backlash as a violation of religious freedom, saying: 'If I had shown up with purple hair and a dress, claiming to be a woman, the government wouldn't have said a word.'
Edmonton Journal
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Protests erupt outside Montreal church where U.S. Christian musician held worship performance
Protesters and police faced off outside a Plateau church Friday evening as Sean Feucht, a pro-Trump and Christian singer, performed a concert as part of his 'Revive in 25' Let Us Worship tour. The show went ahead despite a warning from the city that the venue, Église MR, did not have the required permit to host the event. Article content The show went ahead despite a warning from the city that the venue, Église MR, did not have the required permit to host the event. Article content Article content Article content 'If the event goes ahead, notices of violation will be issued, and the neighbourhood police station is mobilized to enforce the regulations,' said Catherine Cadotte, a spokesperson for Mayor Valérie Plante. Article content Article content Article content As Feucht's supporters began arriving, local activists gathered in front of the Spanish-speaking church on Roy St, chanting anti-Trump and anti-fascism slogans. Tensions grew as the crowd grew. Article content By 7 p.m., demonstrators had surrounded the church entrance. Dozens of police officers formed a perimeter, and at least one protester was arrested. Article content Inside the church, a few dozen attendees gathered, joining in song and prayer. Article content By 8.30 p.m., the crowd of protesters outside the church had thinned out. Article content Montreal Police quickly intervene between a counter-protester to the Sean Feucht concert and the Rebel News team — Harry North (@hsnorth_) July 25, 2025
Vancouver Sun
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Protests erupt outside Montreal church where U.S. Christian musician held worship performance
Protesters and police faced off outside a Plateau church Friday evening as Sean Feucht, a pro-Trump and Christian singer, performed a concert as part of his 'Revive in 25' Let Us Worship tour. The show went ahead despite a warning from the city that the venue, Église MR, did not have the required permit to host the event. The show went ahead despite a warning from the city that the venue, Église MR, did not have the required permit to host the event. Earlier Friday, the Montreal mayor's office said borough inspectors had notified the owners the activity cannot legally proceed, and that police are prepared to intervene if necessary. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'If the event goes ahead, notices of violation will be issued, and the neighbourhood police station is mobilized to enforce the regulations,' said Catherine Cadotte, a spokesperson for Mayor Valérie Plante. Police briefly entered the church before the event began. But an officer at the scene later confirmed the show would proceed. Montreal Police is entering the church where Christian singer Sean Feucht is due to perform. The city of Montreal has said it must not go ahead due to not having the right permits. Feucht said he was unfazed by the city's position. 'This is not a performance, it's a church service,' he said. As Feucht's supporters began arriving, local activists gathered in front of the Spanish-speaking church on Roy St, chanting anti-Trump and anti-fascism slogans. Tensions grew as the crowd grew. By 7 p.m., demonstrators had surrounded the church entrance. Dozens of police officers formed a perimeter, and at least one protester was arrested. During one tense moment, a protester's interaction with a journalist from news outlet Rebel News resulted in police intervening to separate the two. Inside the church, a few dozen attendees gathered, joining in song and prayer. By 8.30 p.m., the crowd of protesters outside the church had thinned out. Montreal Police quickly intervene between a counter-protester to the Sean Feucht concert and the Rebel News team Feucht, a former worship leader and MAGA-aligned activist, has faced similar pushback across Canada. All six of his previously scheduled concerts in Halifax, Charlottetown, Moncton, Quebec City, Gatineau and Vaughan were cancelled by local authorities. Cities said the cancellations were prompted by 'heightened public safety concerns' and the potential for protests. Feucht's outspoken views on abortion, gender identity and LGBTQ+ rights has drawn criticism and been cited as a source of tension. Feucht has scrambled to put on shows at alternative locations. On Thursday night, he performed at the Bar None Campsite on the Taxis River in Miramichi, N.B., to replace a cancelled show in Moncton. The hastily-organized event prompted a statement from the owners of the campground on Friday saying the show was not authorized and does not align with their core beliefs, according to the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. 'It's important that our partner organizations know that the performer involved in this event does not align with what we stand for as an organization,' Michelle Seymour, director of administration for Bridges of Canada, said in a statement late Friday afternoon, adding they are conducting an investigation. 'We believe in compassion, inclusivity, and integrity.' Pastor Byron & his wife Amanda are the real heroes tonight in Montreal. When the city cancelled our permit (and kept our money), he opened his beautiful church. When the mayor tried to force him to stop worship IN HIS OWN CHURCH, he refused. May God raise up 1000 more like… The Montreal show was another last-minute announcement to make up for cancelled shows. He has framed the opposition to his performances as a form of religious discrimination. 'If I had shown up with purple hair and a dress, claiming to be a woman, the government wouldn't have said a word,' he posted earlier this week. On Friday afternoon, Feucht claimed the pastor of the Montreal church had been 'pressured, threatened and attacked' for agreeing to host the concert. Then, in a follow-up post, he appeared to maintain that the show would still go ahead. 'This pastor and his church ARE NOT BACKING DOWN!!!,' he wrote. Earlier in the day, Feucht reported that his tour bus was struck by another driver in Quebec. 'The Quebec police on the scene were unbelievably kind and other driver acknowledged he slammed into our bus and somehow 'lost control,'' he wrote. The Let Us Worship movement began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a protest against public health restrictions on religious gatherings. Feucht has since gained a national profile in the United States and brought his message to Canada despite picking some controversy along the way. — The New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal contributed to this report. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Ottawa Citizen
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Protests erupt outside Montreal church where U.S. Christian musician held worship performance
Article content Protesters and police faced off outside a Plateau church Friday evening as Sean Feucht, a pro-Trump and Christian singer, performed a concert as part of his 'Revive in 25' Let Us Worship tour. The show went ahead despite a warning from the city that the venue, Église MR, did not have the required permit to host the event. Article content The show went ahead despite a warning from the city that the venue, Église MR, did not have the required permit to host the event. Article content Article content Article content 'If the event goes ahead, notices of violation will be issued, and the neighbourhood police station is mobilized to enforce the regulations,' said Catherine Cadotte, a spokesperson for Mayor Valérie Plante. Article content Article content 'This is not a performance, it's a church service,' he said. Article content As Feucht's supporters began arriving, local activists gathered in front of the Spanish-speaking church on Roy St, chanting anti-Trump and anti-fascism slogans. Tensions grew as the crowd grew. Article content By 7 p.m., demonstrators had surrounded the church entrance. Dozens of police officers formed a perimeter, and at least one protester was arrested. Article content Inside the church, a few dozen attendees gathered, joining in song and prayer. By 8.30 p.m., the crowd of protesters outside the church had thinned out. Article content Montreal Police quickly intervene between a counter-protester to the Sean Feucht concert and the Rebel News team — Harry North (@hsnorth_) July 25, 2025
