Anti-mask protesters might be following the wrong person

DEAR EDITOR:

I put my mask on and travelled into downtown Kelowna last Saturday, to witness the anti-mask rally. From previous reports, there have been up to 150 people in attendance. There were only approximately 4050 in attendance.

I did not want to be associated with (or in the proximity of) the protesters, so I sat across the street in front of City Hall. A few others joined me as the rally began. We couldn’t hear most of what the speakers said because they kept sending men from the rally over to harass, take photos and film us. They aggressively confronted the people holding signs, demanding that they “show the science – there is no science.”

I am not in the habit of reading science or medical journals, but I feel confident the experts in those fields have the experience and knowledge to make decisions based on scientific facts. They are asking us to stay home, wash our hands, keep our distance, and wear a mask when we’re out. I don’t get how anyone can believe that they’re just making it all up.

I have seen facts about COVID-19’s death toll: over two million globally, nearly 400,000 in the U.S., 18,000 in Canada and over 1,000 in BC.

What restrictions have done is prevent the medical system from becoming overwhelmed ahead of the development, approval and distribution of vaccine.

As the development of treatments emerge, deaths are less common, but cases continue to increase.

The protesters obviously believe their perceived loss of freedom is more important than protecting our vulnerable populations.

One woman held up a sign with a red heart saying “LOVE — not fear” and It made me realize some of these people, not the organizer, but probably most of the devotees believe that they are “the Good Guys.”

Do they realize that their leader, David Lindsay is a criminal, a vexatious litigant associated with notorious white supremacist Paul Fromm?

Fromm is in the news lately for making donations to a Conservative politician who has now been thrown under the bus by leader Erin O’Toole. They are scrambling to distance themselves from the Proud Boys, etc., since the Fascist insurrection down south.

I don’t believe masks and restrictions are the real issue of the organizers. My suspicion is they are hoping to radicalize angry white folk into their Fascist cell of incels, anti-abortion activists, anti-feminists, gun activists and followers of QAnon and false prophets.

I just hope and pray that these innocent people will realize that they are being misled and stop attending and supporting this man now.

Susan Davenport, West Kelowna