Among the approximately 1,000 people police estimated were at a Vancouver “Freedom Mega Rally” Saturday protesting COVID-19 lockdown measures – the voices of young counter-protestors might have gone unnoticed.
But the handful young activists came prepared with signs and masks.
They stayed for hours, starting conversations with groups of demonstrators adamantly against "censorship, lockdowns, mask mandates, vaccine mandates, quarantines, travel bans, social distancing, and contact tracing.”
Among them, Vancouver teenager Grace Hennebery, who held up a sign with fellow young activist Mercedes Fenrich that read: “No mask on your face, you big disgrace, spreading your germs all over the place.”
The high school seniors told Vancouver Is Awesome, “it is important for people to be aware that there are two sides.”
The point of the poster was to bring awareness to both perspectives of the anti-mask, mask debate, Fenrich added.
After being coughed on and “pushed around” Saturday, even having their sign taken by an anti-mask protestor, Hennebery said the duo came back for the second day of demonstrations on Oct. 18.
“Even though we’re teenagers we try to look at both perspectives and base our opinions off of not only science but also what we think would benefit the community,” the teens agreed.
Hennebery – whose mother is a nurse and father is immunocompromised – said she’s old enough to know that much of the information being spread by speakers at the rally wasn't backed by credible science.
“I get worried about the effects of what they are saying to people, I worry about where they get this information and why they can’t seem to find a common ground and most of all the lives that have been lost and continue to,” she said.
Youth defy anti-maskers at protests
Another youth duo led the downtown march Saturday with a sign.
These heroes led todays anti-mask protest. from r/vancouver
One teen even stood among the crowds Saturday with a sign in-hand.
A teenager protesting anti-lockdown demonstrations this weekend. (Grace Hennebery)A group of Vancouver organizations and stakeholders, including three current city councillors, signed a letter in defiance of the rallies planned.
"We are particularly alarmed to find out that an alliance of conspiracy believers, anti-vaxxers, white supremacists and neo-Nazis is planning a major two-day event in Vancouver Oct. 17 and 18, which will include the arrival of a convoy of such extremists coming from Saskatchewan and Alberta," the letter read.
"We are stalwart defenders of the rights of assembly and free speech, but we cannot be so naïve as to allow a violent neo-fascist movement to grow and threaten society – including its most vulnerable members - behind the façade of free expression."
