by Charlie Smith on March 8th, 2021 at 6:28 AM 1 of 3 2 of 3
An organization that advances the cause of women had an online Zoom fundraiser interrupted over the weekend by disgusting messages.
According to the Richmond Women s Resource Centre, the sexist, racist, ageist, vulgar and pornographic comments, images, and sounds showed up during the keynote speech.
Today, the centre will continue its fundraising efforts until 10 p.m. on International Women s Day. The tweet below shows how people can make donations.
The centre was founded in 1976 and is currently delivering services online as a result of the pandemic. Thank you to Annie Lo and Savneet Sandhu of the Boss Lady Collective for their calm and cool demeanor in light of disruption, to our Event MC Thor Diakow, for making the necessary adjustments, and to the staff and Board of the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre for their response to pivot and regain control of our event, the organization said in a statement.
VANCOUVER Members of a women s organization are reeling after their virtual Women s Day event was Zoom bombed by hackers. The incident, they say, highlights the need for their work. The hackers posted pornographic images along with racist and sexist comments during a fundraising event, hosted by the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre. “At first it was some colouring on the powerpoint slides of the keynote speakers, who were two young women who came to speak,” said president Tammi Belfer. The presenters alerted those watching that something unusual was happening, Belfer said. “Right after that, some music came on and some pornography came on and some of us started to get messages that were horrific sexual connotations, calling people old hags … calling somebody the N-word, and it just breaks my heart when I hear that,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion.
ymphotos/Shutterstock
A social service’s organization in Richmond had its International Women’s Day celebration “zoom-bombed” with pornography.
The Richmond Women’s Resource Centre said that the key-note speech of the virtual event, which was held on March 6, was disrupted by “sexist, racist, ageist, vulgar and pornographic comments, images, and sounds.”
“This incident is particularly troubling because of the personal and intrusive nature of the zoom-bombing,” the centre said in a release.
Michelle Yuen, the centre’s Vice President, said on social media that she was “appalled and sick” by the zoom-bombing.
Appalled & sick about the sexist, racist & disgusting zoombomb that happened during our annual #InternationalWomenDay event today. Shows how much @BC RWRC is needed and how women in 2021 are still targeted and disrespected. Join us in supporting our women! https://t.co/yNv3EH7ltP