Lethbridge Police Station -- LNN

By Connor Gunn Lethbridge News Now

Lethbridge Police offer strong message to “anti-maskers” planning to protest

Dec 11, 2020 | 7:21 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB– After months of having a Mandatory Mask Bylaw in Lethbridge, our city’s Police Chief is fed up with people not complying.

In a Thursday afternoon media conference, Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh, says mask disobedience is at a pandemic-high in the city.

Now, police received word there may be an anti-mask and lockdown protest at the Park Place Mall this Saturday, and Mehdizadeh wants his message to be clear.

The Chief has spoken to some organizers of the protest and has told them the dialogue and the warning stage is over, law enforcement is next.

“Extreme protests interfere with the rights and freedoms of other citizens, who are doing their part to reduce the spread of the virus. In the process, those protesters also put the community’s safety and well-being in jeopardy.”

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“Our priority at the Lethbridge Police Service is to protect the whole community, and we will take the appropriate enforcement actions when people in our community are put in harm’s way. Protesters and protest organizers who infringe on the rights of other citizens to go about their daily lives will need to be held accountable,” adds Mehdizadeh.

He said the next step police will take is law enforcement, such as handing out tickets or other measures.

Mayor Chris Spearman had remarks he couldn’t keep to himself either.

“It is disappointing to see a small group of people act carelessly and without consideration of how they may harm others by ignoring and protesting against COVID restrictions.”

“Those who are against our face-covering bylaw have the right to express their opinions but they do not have the right to put others at risk,” adds Spearman.

The minimum amount for a mask disobedience ticket is $100.

Mehdizadeh and Spearman want both of their messages to be clear that Lethbridge and its Police will not tolerate “careless” behaviour.