Saint John Police separate two NCA members (left) from the dozens of protestors (right) who showed up to speak out against them.
Dozens of protesters gathered at City Hall today to stand up against the National Citizens Alliance, a far right political group.
The NCA has been trying to gain a foothold in the Maritimes, but have meet met by counter-protesters each time.
The group’s platform of anti-immigration and climate change denying struck a nerve in many Saint Johners.
I’m at City Hall where a line of police officers are separating dozens of counter-protestors from two members of the NCA, a far right group. pic.twitter.com/pllpNeQO3U
— Danielle McCreadie (@danimccreadie) June 28, 2019
Dawn Robinchaud was one of them. She says after reading more about the group, she realized she had to stand up against their messages.
“The’ve been not welcome in other communities around the province, around the Maritimes, so I think it’s a good show today that we’re here as an open city, but we’re not open to intolerance, bigotry, racism,” she said.
Mayor Don Darling showed up in solidarity with the protesters, a move Robichaud found uplifting.
He says the message the NCA spreads is not one that is welcome in Saint John.
“I respect people’s rights to express themselves, it doesn’t mean I have to like what they’re expressing, and I’m proud for Saint Johners for coming out and fighting for what they believe in,” he told media outside City Hall.
Mayor Don Darling showed up to the rally in solidarity with the counter-protesters.
The event was originally going to be held at the legion, but was moved to the front steps of City Hall after the Legion learned more about the group and cancelled.
Darling says he wishes he could’ve done more to keep them off city property, and maintains that the rally has “no affiliation with City Hall” or the city.
“If I could’ve anything to not have them on this space I would’ve,” he said. “They had not applied for any permit, I looked into it to see if a permit was required. I certainly believe that in the future we should require permits for all gatherings,” he said.
A number of police officers were also at the rally, forming a wall between the two NCA members and the counter-protesters.
“I’m very concerned that we have about 12 plus police officers here today,” said Darling.
“The people of Saint john will pay for that. I think a bill should go to this group here today because clearly they’re inciting the need to have this many police officers here.”
Darling says he’s proud of the number of people who showed up to counter the group.
“We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that there are far more people here standing up for what we would see as Saint John values, views, what we would see as Canadian views, and there’s just one guy with a bullhorn spewing a lot of information here today,” he said.
The two NCA members were escorted away by police after less than an hour.
There is another rally planned for tonight in Quispamsis at the Q-plex.
