A Canadian trans streamer and political commentator named Clara Sorrenti, who goes by Keffals on Twitch, reported that she was swatted and arrested after trolls impersonated her online. Swatting is the act of making a false report of extreme violence in an attempt to invoke an overwhelming law enforcement response at an individual’s home. It’s a harassment technique that has gained popularity in recent years and in a few instances, has turned deadly.
Sorrenti is no stranger to online harassment, given her platform is largely based on calling out anti-trans bigotry and covering queer news. Earlier this year, she was temporarily banned from Twitch for her conversations about the harassment and abuse she has suffered because of her online platform. But things came to a head on August 5, when Sorrenti’s home was raided by the Canadian police.
In a YouTube video, she later made on the situation, Sorrenti states that she was “woken up by London Police Services pointing an assault rifle in (her) face in (her) home.” The police came bearing a warrant for a handgun, ammunition, cartridges, cleaning tools, a gun case, cellphones, and computers.
As it turns out, someone claiming to be Sorrenti emailed every city councilor in London, Ontario, stating that she had killed her mom, possessed an illegal firearm, and intended to “go to city hall and shoot every cisgender person” there.
During the search, Sorrenti has stated that she was repeatedly misgendered and dehumanized by the individuals she came into contact with. The police chief issued a statement on the accusation:
“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. At this time, we are still in the process of gathering the information necessary for this review.”
According to the London Police, Sorrenti is still a suspect in their investigation. Sorrenti and her family have previously requested to be added to a no-swat list with law enforcement but that request was denied.
