Police raid trans streamer’s home due to false report

A well known trans activisit and gamer was raided by police after a sick email was sent pretending to be from her.

Ontario police raided trans streamer Clara “Keffals” Sorrenti’s home, in response to an emailed threat that she didn’t send.

This process, known as “swatting” can result in the unjustified confiscation of equipment, arrest, and even death in some circumstances.

Speaking out about her experiences to Global News, Keffals has been the target of anti-trans hate in the past.

Trolls abused Twitch’s reporting system to get her suspended from the streaming platform for a full month, simply due to a hatred of trans people.

On August 5, an email was sent out at 6am, pretending to be Keffals.

In the email, the pretender claimed that Keffals had acquired a gun, shot her mother dead, and planned to “shoot every cisgender person” at City Hall.

While she doesn’t have any idea who impersonated her, Keffels is frustrated that the police appear to not care about her predicament.

Her family had contacted the local police service about being placed on a “no-swatting” list, but were treated as if they were being paranoid, or “wearing tinfoil hats.”

Despite that, police raided her home, geared out with rifles and vests, and confiscated her phones and computers.

On August 5th, I was woken up with an assault rifle pointed at me and arrested for a crime I didn't commit. I need your help. Please share this video widelyhttps://t.co/URNsfyrSQc

— Clara Sorrenti (@keffalsbackup) August 9, 2022

In addition to storming her house, Keffals recalled that the police were using transphobic language and actions, such as “dead-naming” her (calling her by her birth name), both in-person and on the police reports.

According to Keffals, the police also asked her if she was a “she” or a man during the arrest.

LPS Chief Steve Williams released a statement on Wednesday, stating that “It has come to my attention that Ms Sorrenti was referred to during her time in London police custody by an incorrect name and gender. We acknowledge the distress this has caused Ms Sorrenti and we will be reviewing the occurrence to understand how that might have happened.”

Keffals has stated that after she is cleared of criminal charges, she plans to sue the police.

Keffals is an activist both online and off, advocating for transgender rights and supporting her community with critical information about transgender issues.

“They want me dead. I’m a high-profile transgender activist, there’s a big target on my back, and for the past year, transgender people have been at the focal point of a culture war.

“[The abuse is] targeted now, it’s a lot scarier because now people are going out of their way in order to hurt transgender people, they’re trying to claw back the progress we’ve made as a community.”

Keffals isn’t deterred from her mission, however — while certainly a little worse for wear, she had this to say about future plans: “I’m not backing down. I know that the work I do is incredibly valuable, and thousands of trans people told me that I have people almost every day saying they came out to their families because of me. If they want me to stop, the next time, they better manipulate the police into pulling the trigger.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to assist with Keffals’ move and legal fund.

Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF.