“Just shut up. I’m trying to enjoy life.”
That’s what a Burnaby woman once told me about having to listen to someone “screaming” hateful religious rhetoric in the area around the Metrotown SkyTrain station.
Now it turns out the problem is “multiplying” according to Metrotown residents forced to listen to these folks who use microphones to amplify their homophobic thoughts and, lately, COVID-19 conspiracy theories.
As the weather has warmed up, people are opening their windows, including those working from home. That would be fine if the sound of the “screamers” didn’t carry so far. It can’t be very pleasant for transit users either to be confronted with this at station.
“I do not need some random dude with a microphone telling me who I am is wrong while I walk across the street to catch my bus,” one person told me. “TransLink security will do nothing because the Christian screamers are not on TransLink property. They are bothering TransLink patrons but that doesn't seem to matter. City hall or our RCMP will do nothing either … No one deserves to randomly hear they'll go to hell because they don't live their life by the bible. We don't need to hear what is a ‘sin’ while waiting for the crosswalk sign to change. I can only imagine the affect these screamers have on people who are already questioning their lives. This is Pride month and the screamers are telling everyone being homosexual is a sin. That is harmful. They need to be stopped.”
Sadly, this behaviour does seem impossible to stop. But Metrotown residents are trying.
“I am at a loss as to who to contact about this as several phone calls and emails to the city have gone nowhere,” said one resident. “The man that is frequently outside of Metrotown SkyTrain station with a sign and a lot to say about Jesus. I don't understand why nothing can be done about him. I live in a nearby building and have to listen to his offensive and crude rantings at least once a week. On top of that, I needed to explain to my eight-year-old daughter what ‘masturbation’ and ‘bum sex’ were yesterday. I am repeatedly told that there is ‘nothing they can do’ by TransLink staff or to ‘call the city.’ Doing just that has also got me nowhere as I have been told by them to contact TransLink. Is this just something I have to accept living in Burnaby?”
I’ve seen some of the folks in action and it’s not pleasant. And that’s just while I’ve driven by the station with my window open. I can’t imagine being an area resident with that noise bellowing through my window all day.
And the authorities are apparently powerless to stop it.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.