Over a dozen people stood in St. George’s Square Saturday protesting the lockdown with messages such as ‘hugs over masks,’ ‘facts over fear’ and ‘no more lockdown’.
It wasn’t long before what started as a peaceful protest turned into a shouting match between a few protesters and a few walking past disagreeing with their messages.
Emotions ran high on both sides.
“We’re not anti-maskers like they say we are. We’re pro-freedom and our rights and freedom are slowly being removed away more rapidly in the last year because of COVID,” said Dave Driver who organized the protest through a call out on Facebook.
“There are so many lies. To me, the government has been lying for a long time.”
Driver said with pandemonium on the streets, no COVID-19-related deaths that he knows and the flu disappearing, he questions what is going on.
“You want to wear a mask? Wear a mask. I don’t want to wear a mask. That should be a choice,” said Driver.
He said many people like him are against the lockdown and he organized the protest to raise awareness that the lockdown is infringing on rights and hurting everybody.
A few protesters even handed out information on what they believe is corruption behind the pandemic, poor media information and faulty testing.
Walking past the protesters, Jennifer Duncan yelled "You should put your masks on. You need to protect all of us.”
“It pushed a button,” said Duncan.
“They're out here to protest which I fully respect.”
After asking questions about evidence about their claims, the incident turned into a screaming match.
“They were getting really close. I was backing up which I didn’t appreciate,” said Duncan.
Duncan said she believes the lockdown is important and absolutely works.
“They told me to turn off the news. Turn to alternative media which I said `What is the evidence to back that up?’” said Duncan.
Lisa McWhinnie was another protester said she believes the facts just don’t add up. A message she wore on her shirt.
“The numbers, the fact that they’re saying influenza has been wiped out. I mean where did it go?” said McWhinnie.
“If we can still get COVID wearing a mask, it doesn't make sense to me that a flu that's been endangering people for decades be all of a sudden wiped out.”
McWhinnie said she believes the government has lied before about many things and she doesn’t trust the current political leaders in Canada.
“Men and women who do nothing but backstab each other are not people I honour. I wouldn't have friends like that so why would I have a government like that?” said McWhinnie.
“That has no integrity to me.”
