Hundreds gather for Sunday’s anti-mask protest in Winnipeg
Posted April 25, 2021 4:52 pm.
Last Updated April 27, 2021 3:52 pm.
WINNIPEG (CityNews) — Hundreds of Manitobans flocked to The Forks in Winnipeg on Sunday afternoon to protest and defy public-health orders.
Among those in attendance was minister Tobias Tissen, the controversial pastor of the Church of God Restoration in Steinbach, Man.
Both Tissen and the church have received numerous fines already for breaking rules on gatherings.
Anti-mask rally being held at The Forks right now. Couple hundred in attendance. #Winnipeg
????- VJ @mariegomez63 pic.twitter.com/6hVnyyWONB— Courtney Rutherford (@CourtRutherford) April 25, 2021
Sunday’s protest was also in contravention of current orders.
Several demonstrators carried signs with anti-mask slogans and other messaging that opposed health measures, such as “Unmask Our Children Now” and “Mask Free Zone.”
One woman could be seen holding up a mock print-out of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“This entire freedom convoy is about one thing: freedom,” one of the speakers told the large crowd, and was met with applause.
In a statement posted to their Instagram, The Forks Winnipeg said it “does not condone gatherings that are against current public health orders.
“We were not asked for permission by anyone to host today’s rally.”
The province of Manitoba addressed the protest with a statement that read, in part: “Public health orders are in place to prevent large gatherings, and enforcement action may take place if people gather in large groups.”
The crowd at today’s anti-lockdown rally at #TheForks pic.twitter.com/EK9qM3Iuuo
— Simple Marie Gomez (@mariegomez63) April 25, 2021
