As hundreds of Albertans gathered in downtown Calgary on Thursday to protest the arrival of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, photos began to surface of two protesters in particular.
One of the demonstrators was wearing a hoodie depicting a noose in a tree with the words “Come West Trudeau” printed across the chest.
The sweatshirt is made by a company called Low Class Oil Trash, a small pro-oil industry clothing brand and the brainchild of Caitlin Lindsay, whose husband works in the oilfield.
“I was just incredibly struck by the hypocrisy of how oil and gas workers are treated here,” Lindsay said.
The clothing brand has been online for about a year. According to its website, the company believes in the oilfield, the power of oil, supporting Albertan suppliers and the oil trash lifestyle.
“Most of all, we believe this: f*** the liberals and keep makin’ hole,” the websites philosophy section reads.
Although the sweatshirt has been largely condemned on social media, Lindsay said she sees nothing wrong with the depiction.
“It is a sentiment that absolutely resounds with people and I think there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing our frustration with how we’re treated and how we’re represented,” she said. “I think there’s nothing wrong with wearing that on the front of our shirts.”
The RCMP said they are aware of the shirts.
“While we do not comment on operational matters regarding the prime minister’s security, we can confirm that we are aware of the matter.” RCMP Staff Sgt. Tania Vaughan said in a statement to Global News. “The RCMP takes all threats seriously and has measures in place to address them.”
When asked whether there is any concern her hoodies could possibly incite violence, Lindsay told Global News that kind of concern is ludicrous.
“If somebody wants to hang Trudeau, they’re going to hang Trudeau and it’s going to have nothing to do with us,” she said.
