Homes of councillor, medical officer of health in Niagara region targeted with graffiti, protest

Warning, this story contains offensive language.

Two public officials in the Niagara region were the targets of seemingly anti-vaccine or anti-COVID regulation protesters overnight Tuesday. 

St. Catharines councillor Karrie Porter said she received a message from a concerned neighbour Wednesday morning about hateful spray-painted messages on the side of her home.

She shared images of the messages on social media Wednesday, calling them "a pathetic display of cowardice and weakness."

The derogatory remarks included "F--k you Marxist B----h" and "united non-compliance."

"I don't live alone. I have children, I have a husband and I have neighbours; and before people do something like this again, they really need to think about that," Porter later told CBC News. 

Elsewhere, earlier on Tuesday evening, the home residence of Niagara's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, was also the target of a protest. 

A group of protesters gathered outside of Hirji's house Tuesday evening, in what at least one protester, who claimed to be present, said on social media was an attempt to have their "ignored questions" answered.

Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officers say they were called to the scene at 7:30 p.m. and arrived to see approximately 14 people involved in a demonstration, they told CBC Wednesday.

Police said no charges were laid in relation to the protest. There are no laws that prohibit protesting at the personal dwelling of an individual, police said, but a protest would cross the line if it extended onto private property of a residence and people were trespassing. 

"The NRPS is monitoring the situation closely, while balancing charter issues and public safety concerns. The role of the police is to ensure continued public safety and to preserve the peace. We recognize that protests and demonstrations can be frustrating to the community as a whole," they said. 

"The Service has and continues to review case law and seek legal opinion as it relates to Canadian Charter of Rights... The Service is also very alive to the concerns of public officials and servants and have had direct contact with them to ensure their continued safety as well."

In a video on Instagram, the person who claimed to be part of the protest said it "couldn't have been more respectful," because the group stayed off of Hirji's property, arrived after dinner time and, they said, only stayed for one hour because they wanted to be mindful of children's bedtimes in the neighbourhood.

Videos show the use of flashlights and megaphones pointed at Hirji's home, in an attempt to have him come outside to answer questions.