Mom suspects mistaken identity after teenage son denied meet with Obama

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This article was published 28/02/2019 (2455 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Beausejour woman believes her teenage son is the victim of mistaken identity after he was flagged as a security risk and denied access to the meet-and-greet portion of former U.S. president Barack Obama’s upcoming speaking event in Winnipeg.

Lisa Dyck says she and her 17-year-old son, Aaron, were excited to meet the former world leader on Monday when he takes centre stage at Bell MTS Place for an event titled “A conversation with Barack Obama.”

Prior to the start of the event, those who have paid for upgraded tickets are scheduled to briefly meet and have their photo taken with the first African-American president in U.S. history.

“Politics is a huge interest for me and my family. I think we’re all politically involved, although I wouldn’t say my children are overly partisan. (Aaron) plays football and generally his heroes and role models have been athletes,” Dyck said.

“So when he told me that he really looked up to Obama and would love to meet him, to me that was just fantastic as a mom. So I thought, ‘This is great,’ and got the tickets.”

When signing up for the meet-and-greet, Dyck said she had to provide the names, cellphone numbers, and email addresses for each person in their group.

On Tuesday, less than a week before Obama’s visit to the city, Dyck got a call from event organizer Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and was informed her son had been flagged by security.

As such, he won’t be able to meet the former U.S. president in person, but will be allowed to watch the event from the stands.

“He was devastated. He had a desire to meet the former president of the United States. He’s been a role model and hero to my son. I don’t see when he’ll ever have this chance again. He’s 17, plays football, goes to school. What could he possibly have done?” Dyck said.

“We can’t seem to get any information. At this point, them stating he’s not allowed to go to the meet and greet after I’ve bought tickets and given them everything they’ve asked for seems unacceptable to me.”

The Free Press was denied an interview with Manitoba RCMP Sgt. Chris Willkie, who is involved with organizing security for the event. In a written statement, an RCMP spokesman said they can’t “speak to any specific incident or persons that may or may not be considered a security threat” since it could infringe on the privacy of individuals “directly or indirectly related to any investigation that may or may not be taking place.”

Dyck said she has requested a review of the decision and sent in copies of her son’s birth certificate and social insurance number. She said she’s confused how he could be flagged by security on the basis of his name, when they don’t even know how old he is.

She added, at this point, she’s wondering if her son may have the same name as someone on a watch list.

“I do think it’s mistaken identity. I asked if he was the only one who’d been flagged and they said yes. I requested a review of that decision. I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but I’m very hopeful at this point,” Dyck said.

“I’m not sure if this decision has come from the (U.S.) Secret Service. We’re not sure where exactly it has come from. But I would like to have more details. I think we’re owed that.”

“A conversation with President Barack Obama” is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Bell MTS Place on March 4.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe