Were they expecting trouble?

To the editor

On Friday, Oct. 19, I attended the protest rally in Pictou in support of my grandson Nhlanhla who was shot by a nail gun from a fellow worker and in addition also experienced racism at the workplace. Many people have called to express support and the Jeffery and Dlamini families are indeed very grateful. The speeches at the rally were well delivered and passionate. While at the rally I had an interesting experience and thought I would share it with you all. Perhaps others experienced it as well.

Simply expressed, I had to enter the Justice Complex to go to the bathroom. Imagine my surprise when I was met by three or four RCMP officers stationed immediately inside the building; a security check was required. I was shocked really because we were not expecting to see a police presence inside the Justice Complex. Were they expecting trouble from us, I wondered?

I complied with the search as any good citizen would do so. I then asked the officer in charge if there was any correlation and connection between the protest rally outside and the police presence inside. He replied that they were just doing a random visit and search of all who entered the building. I was told that the protest rally outside had nothing to do with their visit. Upon further questioning, he told me that they were trying to get their quota in before the month end. It was an interesting response from the RCMP which I thought I would share.

Sincerely,

Fred Jeffery, Hopewell