About a dozen protesters took to city Hall on Saturday Sept. 26 to protest mask-bylaws and argue for the right to choose(Tiffany Goodwein/ CHAT NEWS)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Hugs not masks: Protesters take to city hall to argue for choice surrounding mask-use

Sep 26, 2020 | 8:23 PM

Medicine Hat, AB- About a dozen protesters marched towards city hall Saturday afternoon to protest mask use and push for the right to choose.

The demonstration was the second mask-rally held in weeks. This time around, the event, went by the theme Hugs Not Masks and eluded to the damaging effects of the pandemic to mental health in the community.

“I think a hug would go a long way right now and I think, for one you know we all have to be socially distant. I feel that with everyone being socially distant, it’s causing so much anxiety everyone’s too scared to be near each other, so a hug right now I think would go a long way,” said Hugs not Masks organizer Stephen Campbell.

Campbell also argued the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic has caused more harm than good for many Canadians

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“If we don’t know there’s a future then anxiety hits, and when anxiety hits you get drug problems, suicides all sorts of other problems,” Campbell said.

Campbell insists he is not an anti-masker, instead stating his argument surrounds freedom of choice.

“If I go to a hospital if I go to a senior home, or a nice concert where they say, ‘hey you got to wear a mask, I would do it but we need that choice and that’s where we need to draw the line. You look to places where there are no bylaws no nothing, people will do it out of there own free will,” Campbell said.

In August, Mayor Ted Clugston said the city will be taking a wait and see approach when it comes to implementing a mask- bylaw. While Campbell and others at the rally complimented the mayor for not taking the step of imposing a bylaw, the protesters say pressure still needs to be put on the city.

“I will not shop at any store that forces you to wear a mask. I can run around this block and not be as exhausted as going down a flight of stairs with a mask on. It restricts my breathing. I have allergies, and this is what is going to happen if we let our government take away our rights our freedoms,” Don Thompson said.

Among the protesters was Jillian Schempp, a mother, who is encouraging other parents to advocate for their children.

“ I had to do that with my own child. Her septum is out of place, and she can only breathe through half of her nose. She can’t get her nose surgery until she is 18-years-old. So she was really struggling at school and I called the principal, and he was very nice. Now I did not call him acting mean or agitated, or angry I was calling for concern for my child, she wants to be at school,” she said.

Schempp, like many of the protesters, also argues that the lockdowns and regulations imposed due to COVID-19 have done more damage to society than the virus itself.

“ We are not functioning well. I can’t even imagine how busy the doctor’s offices are with anti-depressants, anti-anxiety. People are killing themselves, people are suffering. This needs to end. Albertans, Canadians, stand up for your rights right now, because it is very important. I have children. What legacy are we going to leave them? We need mother warriors, we need father warriors, we need grandfather warriors, we need everyone to be a warrior right now,” she said.