Mayors blast ‘pro-rape’ men’s meetings planned for Canadian cities

UPDATE: The meetups have been cancelled due to safety concerns.

TORONTO – Mayors of several major cities across the country are joining the growing chorus of voices decrying men’s rights activist “tribal meetings” planned for Saturday.

Supporters of controversial blogger Roosh V. and his website Return of Kings, a self-proclaimed “blog for heterosexual, masculine men” are promoting an International Meetup Day on Feb. 6, with 10 Canadian cities on the agenda.

Roosh. V, whose real name is Daryush Valizadeh, has previously courted controversy for blogs saying rape should be declared legal if it occurs in private, and that a woman’s value lies primarily in her beauty and fertility.

READ MORE: Female boxer challenges Roosh V., ‘douchebag’ supporters meeting in Toronto

The website describes Saturday’s meetings as “tribal gatherings,” reserved strictly for heterosexual “masculine men to bond and converse.”

WATCH: Pro-rape event canceled after bar discovers it’s the venue for the meeting

1:16 Pro-rape event canceled after bar discovers it’s the venue for the meeting

The website says meetings are taking place in 43 countries, all scheduled for 8 p.m. local time. In Canada, meetings are planned for Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Surrey, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Windsor and Winnipeg.

However, several “host” mayors are publicly condemning the plans and telling men’s rights activists they’re not welcome.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson took the lead, kicking off the hashtag #TurnAwayReturnOf Kings.

Calgary’s Naheed Nenshi, Edmonton’s Don Iveson and Toronto’s John Tory took up the call as well.

“It is sort of funny that I think they’re meeting in a mall after the mall is closed,” Mayor Nenshi told reporters Tuesday. “I’m not quite sure how that works…but I’m pretty sure no one is going to show up either.”

Calgary police said Wednesday officers are aware of the group’s planned meeting, and will “provide any resources as necessary.”

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman added that local police will be monitoring the group’s activities.

Watson later tweeted that he is asking venues to turn away any tribal meetings.

The meeting plans are highly structured, including a Cold War-esque password system: “tribesmen” arriving at the designated meeting spot are told to ask “Do you know where I can find a pet shop?”and to await a specific answer for the all-clear.

READ MORE: Twitter war erupts after Ontario MPP calls for Roosh V. ban

Valizadeh also encourages attendees to record anyone attempting to disrupt the gatherings so he can “exact furious retribution” upon them.

If a “pretty girl” asks to attend, congregants are instructed to “get her number and then tell her to buzz off.”

The planned meetings are meeting a similar reception abroad. Scottish politician Deidre Brock released a statement decrying Valizadeh’s “dangerously idiotic” views.

“While I think he deserves ridicule and contempt more than publicity, there are safety concerns about the advertised gathering of his supporters on Saturday – should he actually have any supporters,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "While I think he deserves ridicule and contempt more than publicity, there are safety concerns about the advertised gathering of his supporters on Saturday - should he actually have any supporters," she said.

“Given his pro-rape statements I have raised my concerns about the legality of the event with the police. I hope that the men of Edinburgh show their disdain for his hateful views by simply not turning up.”

Valizadeh himself claims he’ll be attending a meeting in Sydney, Australia.