The anti-lockdown rally planned in Dauphin for Sunday afternoon has been cancelled by organizers.
The update was announced in an email sent late Saturday afternoon, with organizers cancelling the Dauphin Freedom Rally “until further notice”.
The group organizing the rally — who say they’re comprised of 6 members — planned on welcoming community members to gather at the Dauphin City Hall parking lot from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to “bring attention to the unfair lockdowns and support businesses facing hardships.”
Current public health orders in the province of Manitoba prohibit any indoor or outdoor gathering larger than five.
Officials with the City of Dauphin released a statement Friday evening clarifying they did not authorize the use of City property for any organized events this weekend, stating "any gathering greater than five people is a contravention of the current Provincial Public Health Orders," and urged residents to follow all Health Orders to ensure public safety.
In light of the cancellation, rally organizers also stated “we, as a group were never expecting to be at odds nor confrontational with our law enforcement. We acknowledge their instruction and understand the predicament it places them in with fellow Dauphinites.”
Going forward, the group says they will try approaching city council in support of the business community.
The announcement of the rally drew strong criticism on social media, prompting rally organizers to release the following statement:
“We will take this opportunity and respond to some of the comments made to our families and friends. It saddens a person to read the ugliness in people and how wishing covid on our families or some should lose their jobs all because we just wanted to support our local businesses is shameful behaviour. We don't know where the friendliness in Dauphin went but it sure wasn't here today in support of fellow Dauphinites businesses.”
