On Tuesday night, Canadian powerlifting champion April Hutchinson led a rally in support of Sophie Cunningham in Toronto. This marked the first event of its kind outside the United States. The gathering took place before the Indiana Fever’s victory over the Toronto Tempo, with Cunningham’s supporters assembling outside Scotiabank Arena. Many attendees sported XX-XY Athletics T-shirts.
Hutchinson explained to Fox News Digital that there were only about five individuals wearing pro-transgender messages who confronted the Cunningham supporters, accusing them of having disrespectful signs. Despite this, Hutchinson acknowledged the efforts of Toronto police to ensure the safety of those attending the rally.
“The Toronto police contacted me this morning and wanted details about the rally to ensure our safety,” Hutchinson said.
Tensions did arise between Cunningham’s supporters and local law enforcement. A mobile billboard sponsored by Rebel News featured Cunningham and athlete Martina Navratilova with messages about fairness in women’s sports. This led to police issuing tickets for violating Toronto’s Municipal By-law 693-14, Section 12, which prohibits display signs with animation or flashing lights.
Rebel News plans to contest these charges, having engaged legal assistance. The Toronto Police Department conveyed to Fox News Digital that they cannot provide additional details, as the matter is before the courts.
During the game, Cunningham performed well on the court, making all three of her three-point attempts and scoring 13 points. Despite her strong performance, some fans booed her due to her stance on protecting women’s sports from biological males, which has polarized opinions.
After the game, Cunningham expressed her appreciation for the Toronto audience, highlighting the city’s enthusiasm and passion.
“I want to shout out the Tempo crowd, and the city, I think we had so much fun, it’s my first time being in Canada… but the crowd was absolutely amazing,” she told reporters.
The rally series supporting Cunningham will continue with events planned at the Fever’s upcoming games in Dallas and New York.