RED DEER (CityNews) – An anti-racism protest took place in Red Deer, Alta., on Sunday afternoon, and though there were no physical altercations, counter-protesters did cause controversy.
Hundreds of protesters walked from Coronation Park to Red Deer City Hall, demanding racism end in the city.
Counter-protesters planned a gathering of their own in the same park, coinciding with the timing of the march. At City Hall, tensions heightened as counter-protesters began yelling at the peaceful protesters.
**WARNING (video below): offensive language**
.@BIA__4Equity are at Cityhall to have a community conversation & counter-protesters are still trying to enter. RCMP are blocking all the entrances. pic.twitter.com/fA4dEpyjlB
— Rachelle Elsiufi (@CityRachelle) October 4, 2020
The rally comes just weeks after a Black Lives Matter protest in Red Deer was shut down and cancelled due a violent outbreak after counter-protesters were involved in verbal altercations and physical violence.
Organizers of that event were disappointed in the response from the RCMP, feeling the police presence did not contain the counter-protesters.
RELATED:
- ‘Unacceptable’: Justice Minister decries violence at anti-racism rally
- Politicians’ statements on Red Deer violence leave some wanting more
At Sunday’s event, RCMP set up barricades and arrived in numbers. Streets throughout the downtown area were also blockaded to allow protesters to walk through safely.
Some counter-protesters breached the barriers of both the ceremony and at City Hall, but RCMP confronted them and formed an officer-blockade so as not to allow them to get close.
“I’m not going to ask you again,” one police officer told a counter-protester at the park, asking for identification.
A confrontation between RCMP and counter-protesters here in Red Deer at the Peace Walk. “Im not going to ask you again, can I see your drivers license?” @BTCityNewsCGY pic.twitter.com/18b2H2sgSA
— Taylor Braat (@TaylorBraat_) October 4, 2020
Prior to marching, the protest organizers from the group Black and Indigenous Alliance Red Deer said they did not feel safe in the presence of the counter-protesters, despite increased police presence.
“I really feel that it’s great that they have them separated today,” said one organizer. “It’s a shame that it took violent action to get the RCMP to respond.”
The Peace Walk is chanting their messaging. “Black Lives Matter.” pic.twitter.com/6Qm5So2GUS
— Taylor Braat (@TaylorBraat_) October 4, 2020
When the march toward city hall began, the protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter” and “Indigenous Lives Matter” along the way. When they arrived, they held a ‘community conversation’ about racism in the city.
Organizers say the counter-protests are the exact reason these rallies need to continue being held.