Premier Kathleen Wynne and other craven politicians have created a monster in Black Lives Matter.

Our political leaders dealt with BLM with such cynicism they’ve emboldened and empowered a group that really speaks only for itself.

Back in April, Wynne waded into a group of BLM demonstrators on the lawn of Queen’s Park, ostensibly to show she cares about their issues.

It was an empty gesture — just lip service. Beleaguered by revelations of costly fundraisers where well-heeled companies paid thousands of dollars to wine and dine with Liberal grandees, I suspect the premier was trying to make it appear she’s open and available and free to anyone who asks.

She created a powder keg, wading into a hostile crowd with protesters screaming in her face. She had her own OPP security with her, but Toronto cops who were on hand looked very worried.

If anything had happened, they would have been blamed.

Meanwhile, the government has caved to demands on carding. Fair enough, it wasn’t just BLM demanding changes. It was time for a review. But the way democracies change policies is inside the legislature, not on the lawn outside.

One is called parliamentary democracy. The other is mob rule.

What BLM did at the Pride parade was not just outrageous — it was stupidly reckless. Stopping the parade and setting off smoke bombs just weeks after the Orlando attack on a gay bar was like yelling, “Fire” in a crowded theatre.

People who were there tell me thousands of people were trapped in a small space in sweltering heat. The country’s entire political elite was at the parade. It was a security nightmare.

BLM demanded Pride director Mathieu Chantelois sign their list of demands, which included a promise to ban police floats in future parades.

Chantelois later said he signed the paper under duress and BLM, “isn’t going to tell us there’s no more floats in the parade.”

Good for him. He acted like the adult in the room and should be applauded for doing the right thing.

His group invited BLM to Pride as “honoured guests” and they responded by holding the parade hostage. Why does BLM see their agenda as more important than everyone else’s?

They only welcome cops if they’re working to keep them safe. You’d think Pride organizers would be pleased to have all the cops they can get at the parade.

If BLM wants to get their message across, they should hold their own parade and not hijack one they had no part in organizing.

They raise serious issues about policing. But where were they last week, when Ombudsman Paul Dube released a thoughtful and thorough review of some of the very issues they purport to care about?

Dube was critical of cops’ “shoot first, talk later,” training and suggested changes. Yet, BLM didn’t engage on that. Are they only interested in rabble-rousing? Their message is buried by their tactics.

And what’s with Desmond Cole? He insists he’s not a spokesman for BLM, but any time the group needs a spokesman, he’s conveniently front and centre.

If he’s not a spokesman, he’s certainly an apologist.

BLM represents no one but themselves. They’re not elected; they’re not appointed, and their actions suggest they’re anarchists.

But in caving in to their demands, Wynne and people like Toronto Mayor John Tory, have given BLM licence to hold this city hostage at will. What’s next?

Will they halt the Caribbean carnival?

Or perhaps they’ll find the Santa Claus Parade shamefully white and shut that down as well.