‘Freedom’ rallies to protest lockdowns, vaccine and mask warrants held across Vancouver Island

Hundreds of people demanding an end to terms of vaccines and masks as well as other restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic gathered on the lawn of the British Columbia Legislature in Victoria.

The demonstration was part of the “Global rally for freedom»Demonstrations taking place across the world on Saturday (September 18). A second protest on the lawn of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. also scheduled for September 19.

Organizers say they want to end lockdowns, hide warrants, state of emergency declarations, prevent “vaccine warrants and coercion” and revert to standard international and domestic travel.

“We will push back against widespread propaganda, producing our own media and advancing our own narrative, instead of succumbing to the one forced upon us. We will not accept the widespread politicization of science and medicine, and we will return these institutions to neutral sources of information for the benefit of society, to the detriment of government and business interests, ”said a press release. on Saturday’s event which is published on the organizer’s website. website.

Similar events also took place in Campbell River and Nanaimo on Saturday, with hundreds showing up and many saying they did not think the government’s approach to COVID-19 vaccination was in their best interest.

“You see it in France, Australia around the world right now,” said Stockton Sarosha, a protester in Campbell River. “Everyone sees the passport system as an ineffective tool to make sure everyone is safe.”

Among the protesters in Campbell River was a man who claims his 68-year-old wife suffered an adverse reaction to her first vaccine on June 29 and began to lose mobility in one arm.

“The doctor said, ‘Okay, get some blood work done, check everything.’ He didn’t think it was anything so bad so other than fatigue or fibromyalgia this is one of the precursors. You have some kind of myalgia of it, but it’s been two and a half months now. three, ”he told CHEK News.

For every 100,000 doses of vaccine administered in the province, there were 3.1 serious side effects, according to the BC Center for Disease Control.

However, many of those rallying today believe adverse reaction figures are underreported by authorities, while others are also concerned about vaccine and mask mandates for children.

“I think it’s extremely unhealthy to hide our children. It absolutely does not do justice to their mental growth, their physical growth when you put a mask on a child 24/7, while they try to think, study and make decisions ” , one person told CHEK News.

Others fear losing their jobs if they do not want to be vaccinated.

“My freedom to choose is what worries me. I am a health care worker. I plan to lose my job on October 26th. So I have this big decision to make, ”another person told CHEK News.

Protests were also held in Vancouver, Kelowna, Cranbrook, Sechelt, Salt Spring Island, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Chicago, New York, Denver, Honolulu, San Diego, London, Tokyo, Osaka , Hiroshima, Seoul, Taipei, Sao Paulo, Rome, Melbourne, Dublin, Manila, Bogota, Cape Town, Helsinki, Barcelona and Mumbai, according to the organizer website.

Protesters seen in Campbell River on Saturday September 18. (CHEK News)

Saturday’s rally comes after British Columbia reported 768 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths, including a record 102 new cases on Vancouver Island on Friday.