The United People of Canada (TUPOC) is refusing to leave the St. Brigid's Church in Lowertown Ottawa despite its eviction notice, and has begun using water guns to disperse those trespassing on their property..The members of the controversial group, which has ties to the Freedom Convoy that occupied Ottawa for three weeks back in February, were told they had until 12 a.m. on Thursday to gather their things and vacate the premises..TUPOC's landlord claims the group has failed to pay its rent. But William Komer, executive director of TUPOC, said the landlord has refused to accept more than $10,000 in bank drafts. ."There's basically cash sitting in a piece of paper, waiting for them to come pick it up. And they've just been refusing to contact us," he said..TUPOC defines itself as a "diverse, intergenerational fraternal organization" that aims to "build strong families and communities, solidifying a prosperous future for all Canadians.".To the dismay of many local residents, the not-for-profit organization has been in the process of buying St. Brigid's Church in Lower Town Ottawa since early 2022..As the midnight deadline approached on Wednesday night, several onlookers gathered across the street from the church to see what would happen. An hour later, an argument in front of the church escalated into a physical altercation, leading members of TUPOC to spray people with water guns..The water guns came out again during a press conference on Thursday morning. Following the "Roast of William Komer" event, where Komer donned a tinfoil crown and comedically addressed the media, TUPOC's "security force" sprayed two photojournalists.."You are now trespassing, please remove yourself from the property," Komer said as he sprayed the reporters.."The police have been called. Those that were just removed from the property, please remove yourselves or charges may be laid.".Komer told the Western Standard TUPOC's security force is using "reasonable" force to remove protestors, as getting sprayed with water is less harmful than being tackled or pushed.."Last night, several trespassers were notified probably about 50 times to leave or they would be soaked. So they were soaked," he said..Komer blamed the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) for failing to prosecute "hate-motivated offences" against TUPOC members, and said they have set up a private prosecution team to go after trespassers.."There's nothing wrong with what we've been doing. We're inviting people of all faiths and backgrounds to come here and have healing conversations," Komer said. "We're all humans. And that's what we're looking to foster here; for people to put aside their differences and focus on their commonalities.".When asked what the group would do if the police force came to evict them, Komer said he didn't want to talk hypotheticals. Komer added the bailiff is under investigation by the OPS, adding TUPOC members could arrest the bailiff if he comes on the property again. He refused to elaborate..Over the last few days, several minor scuffles broke out between TUPOC members and Lowertown residents. Counter protestors told the Western Standard TUPOC's members are not being as respectful as they claim, and they worry about damage to St. Brigid's Church..One counter-protestor, Samuel Rizzotta, claimed he was assaulted by TUPOC members on Thursday afternoon after he stole a water gun. .Rizzotta said as he was walking by the church, he "growled" at members standing on the church's lawn. After they sprayed Rizzotta with water guns, he grabbed one off the ground, returned fire, and ran. ."They chased me around the corner and grabbed me, and [William Komer] grabbed me by the neck and yelled, 'citizen's arrest,'" Rizzotta said. "He had me up against the fence in a chokehold and said I was lucky there was a group of people around, or else they would have held me on the ground.".Rizotta maintained that at no point did he trespass onto the ground of St. Brigid's Church. "It was very aggressive, and I don't think they should be allowed to do that.".One Lowertown resident, who didn't want to be named, said "every community organization around here wants them gone."."You have Diane Nolan, one of the members of this group, claiming 'I'm going to die in this church.' It's like a Jim Jones movement," the resident said. "I'm worried this building is going to end up burning down."
