Coun. Sam Merulla doubled down on contentious comments about violence at Pride and lashed out at the media for inflaming protests Friday that he said put his family at risk.

An emotional Merulla said police warned him he was a "potential target" after angry protesters showed up to bang on the door of Mayor Fred Eisenberger's home Friday morning.

Merulla angered activists at Wednesday's council meeting by calling pink-masked counterprotestors who clashed with anti-Pride demonstrators June 15 part of the problem. "I've never seen a victim in a mask," he said.

He also accused the media and other politicians of "feeding oxygen" to what he sees as a relatively small group of far-right "morons."

Merulla offered sarcastic "congratulations" to The Spectator and other local media for coverage he blamed for Friday's protest escalation. He later lashed out directly at a television reporter on Twitter, blaming the coverage for threats against his family.

In an interview, Merulla pointed to a Twitter post that expressed hope the councillor would be the "next hit victim."

"For the record, if you target or anyone targets my family ... I will be targeting you," he tweeted in response.

Merulla has a history of stirring things up with provocative language in council chambers and on Twitter. He exchanged barbs repeatedly Friday with critics — and evenly publicly cut ties with the NDP, calling it the New Radical Party.

The councillor stressed Friday he did not intend to "disrespect" the LGTBQ+ community with his comments at Wednesday's meeting — but he didn't back down, either.

"I don't condone the hateful things these (anti-Pride) morons are spewing ... My criticism is not in any way aimed at the LGBTQ+ community," he said. "But what I'm saying is I can't condone vigilantism, either.

"These thugs are hijacking the concerns of the LGTBQ+ community for their own purposes."

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