A small group of protesters have had enough of the provincial lock down.
Each Friday until the state of emergency in Ontario is ended the group will be in front of Belleville City Hall trying to gather support and protesting the fact a line in people’s freedoms has been crossed.
Organizer of the protest against the lock down Joel Kennedy takes his stand outside of Belleville City Hall on June 5, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Joel Kennedy, organizer of the Belleville-led peaceful protest, says they have had enough of their Constitutional Rights being infringed upon.
Kennedy wanted to make it very clear that they were not protesting against the virus and acknowledges the virus is in fact very real, but instead is not happy with the provincial overreach.
He cites Constitutional Rights in Section 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the closure of provincial borders and the encouragement from politicians to police to issue fines to people under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protections Act.
Kennedy says when the virus first hit, there was a little bit of panic and a state of emergency was declared but says that has now passed.
He continued by noting the number of deaths in Ontario, especially in long-term care facilities is absolutely abysmal because they were under the care of doctors and nurses and it is a scandal the government has largely not been held accountable.
He says they had a poster for people who are seeking more information about what this group is trying to achieve, as well as two open letters; one to MPP Todd Smith and one to Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk.
Kennedy says he has been going door to door in the city for a few weeks now and says of the approximately 700 people he’s spoken with, the response has been quite positive.
In fact, within the first few minutes of demonstrating outside City Hall, two people signed the letters in support of the cause.
Kennedy says he has sent letters each week to both men but has received no response to date.
He says power comes from the people and with the amount of government overreach, oppression is a very real thing.
The group will be in front of City Hall every Friday from 12-3 p.m. until the lock down ends.
People protest the lockdown in front of Belleville City Hall on Friday, June 5, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Kennedy says the group is planning to be at City Hall for the next three weeks, but fully expects the state of emergency to be extended before the June 30 deadline.
He also noted everyone involved in the protest was practising physical distancing.
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This woman protests against the lock down outside of Belleville City Hall on June 5, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
One man protests against the lock down outside of Belleville City Hall on June 5, 2020. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
