Antimask protesters try to ‘arrest’ mayor
Police say charges are pending after crowd of about 35 gathered at St. Catharines City Hall Wednesday
Niagara Regional Police say charges are pending in relation to an event Wednesday that saw a crowd of antimaskers gather at St. Catharines City Hall to “arrest” the mayor.
NRP spokeswoman Stephanie Sabourin said Thursday that the protest remains under investigation with charges pending.
She said no further information could be released.
The group of about 35 people gathered without masks in front of city hall at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after posting the date, time, location and goal on Facebook. “We will be arresting Walter Sendzik [the man] ACTING AS THE MAYOR OF THE SERVICE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ST CATHARINES.”
The group Stand4thee is against mask
bylaws which are in place across the province to help curb the spread COVID-19. It claimed it was performing the arrest of the mayor “in defence of the children.”
A member of the group also called police to come to city hall and make the arrest.
Under the province’s declaration of a provincial emergency, which came into effect on Wednesday, outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are limited to five people. Wearing a mask is recommended outdoors when people can’t physically distance more than two metres.
The group was not distanced and were not wearing masks. A police officer and city bylaw officer watched the actions. Sendzik did not make an appearance.
Sendzik directed any questions about enforcement Thursday to police and did not want to speak about the gathering other than to say it was “disappointing.”
“We’re in the middle of a very significant health crisis. Better examples have to be set.”
The group posted on its Facebook page just after noon on
Thursday that its next targets will be Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Toronto Mayor John Tory.