Freedom for Nova Scotia organizes rally
SYDNEY — The Freedom for Nova Scotia group in Cape Breton will be holding a rally in Sydney on Saturday from 12-1 p.m. at the civic centre on the Esplanade.
Group member Darlene LeBlanc of Gabarus said the local event will be part of a worldwide march for freedom, peace and human rights.
“We want to be part of that,” she said, adding the protest is about freedom and the harsh health restriction measures surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic that lack evidence.
“It's all about science but they won't share that science with anybody. It's been over a year, they should have evidence if the masks are working or if the social distancing is working or if the lockdown is working. No one is listening to the actual experts, the ones who are in the field on the ground, the nurses, the doctors, the scientists.”
Freedom for Nova Scotia was formed last year and at that time organized a rally in Sydney which attracted four people.
LeBlanc said the protest is not about the masks, the lockdowns or social distancing, it's about freedom and people being told by the government they have to do this or that, where it should be someone's own decision. She said the government is trying to own every aspect of our lives, they don't want us to own property or guns.
She said protesters won't be marching during Saturday's rally because they believe if they stay at city hall more people might show up and participate.
They also want people who believe in all the health directives to attend and hear what they have to say, to ask questions and have a dialogue. LeBlanc said they will not be adhering to public health directives.
Nova Scotia Health and Wellness has continued to promote the importance of following all public health directives as COVID-19 numbers have hit record highs in recent weeks.
On March 22, 2020, the Nova Scotia government declared a provincial state of emergency to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The state of emergency is set to expire at noon on Sunday but it is expected to be extended.
Cape Breton Regional Police said they are aware of the planned event on Saturday and have been attempting to make contact with organizers to confirm details and remind them of public health protocols.
"We will have ... officers attend any local protest event, to monitor for crowd control, traffic safety and public safety, as well as enforce any violations of the current public health orders," said a regional police spokesperson.