Armed Man with “Non-Offending Pedophile” Sign Disrupts NYC Wikipedia Conference
During the opening ceremony of the WikiConference North America 2025 in New York City, a man with a gun jumped onstage and threatened self-harm, ultimately being apprehended by organizers. The man was reportedly wearing a sign identifying himself as an “anti-contact non-offending pedophile” and bearing a flag associated with “MAPs,” indicating a potential motive that is under investigation. Following the incident, all Friday events were canceled, with increased security measures planned for the remainder of the conference. The incident occurred at Civic Hall, where the annual event, which is designed for Wikipedia editors and volunteers, began on Thursday and will end on Sunday.
John Q. Hosedrinker