Break-in, more harassment for Guelph Black Heritage Society

'We are tired. We are disappointed. We are angry,' says GBHS president Denise Francis in the wake of a break-in at Heritage Hall and continued harassment and threats

2019 08 21 GT – Following Up Heritage Hall Denise Francis – TB 02

Denise Francis from the Guelph Black Heritage Society outside Heritage Hall on Essex Street. Troy Bridgeman/GuelphToday file photo

"Guelph, we can do better!"

That's the message from the Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS) after a break-in at Heritage Hall prompted the organization to speak out online about the constant harassment and threats they've faced.

"We are annoyed, and we just wish for folks to allow us to do our community work, to live in peace, and just basically mind their own business, to put it bluntly," GBHS president Denise Francis said in a phone interview Thursday.

It's just the latest, following what continues to be a string of harassment and hate toward the organization, and those within the organization.

Threatening letters, hate mail, and cyberbullying have been common, with the threats targeting people within the organization, including herself and Kween, and the Heritage Hall building itself.

Francis said the Cultural Diversity office at the University of Guelph and other community members have also faced the same harassment.

Francis won't say exactly what those threats were, feeling that releasing those details encourages others to do the same.

"(The threats) sort of escalate(s) during February, during Black Heritage Month, and they've continued since then," she said.

The break in happened Wednesday afternoon. Francis said she gets an alert on a mobile app that tells her when a door or the security system is compromised.

"I'm not going to go over the specifics of what happened because I don't think it's necessary, nor do I want to encourage other people to do the same thing," she said, adding nobody was at Heritage Hall at the time.

Francis said she did not notify police of the break-in, due to the organization's relationship and the feeling of little police action being taken in response to past incidents.

She added steps have been taken to upgrade security at Heritage Hall.

She said she's been in contact with other members and feels blessed the community, allies and neighbours have reached out to offer support.

They're doing okay, but as one could imagine, it's a lot to deal with.

"We are tired. We are disappointed. We are angry," Francis said. "And I want to make it clear to folks that we are not scared or fearful because they cannot deter us from doing our community work or from existing."