(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Hatters rally to end lockdown

Dec 19, 2020 | 7:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- Over 100 people made their way to Southridge to protest the ongoing restrictions taking place province-wide.

Men, women, and children held up signs, calling for the restrictions to come to an end, with many arguing the harms to small business, mental health, the economy, and personal rights and freedoms cannot be ignored.

(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

“ There are a lot of small businesses that are suffering right now. People here don’t agree that businesses at all should be shutting down, all businesses are essential and that’s why we are here today,” protest organizer Stephen Campbell said.

The protesters staked outside near the complex housing big box stores like Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Ashley’s Furniture. Campbell and the protesters argue the business restrictions don’t make a lot of sense and they in turn, end up hurting small businesses.

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“Small businesses like restaurants and pubs have to stay closed. Walmart is just packing it in. I don’t see very much social distancing happening over there. If you look at all the big stores they are full, yet small businesses, you can’t go out and have a burger and a beer. This is wrong and against our rights big time,” said Campbell.

(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

Campbell said he is concerned about the impacts that the second lockdown will have on people and the business community.

“We are still feeling the repercussions of the first lockdown, nobody really got up to full business again so, just as people followed all the rules now they have to shut it down all again, and the only people that are allowed to stay open, like I said are people like Wal-mart.” he said.

For protester Sandra Thiessen who attended a rally in Calgary last weekend, she decided to make the drive up to Medicine hat because she believes things are being taken away unnecessarily.

(file photo/ CHATNewsToday)

“My family rodeos and I like to barrel race and none of those things were able to happen this year. Like I said I have seven horses at home that I want to have a right to set a goal to take them to their full potential,” she said.

Currently, restrictions imposed by the province ban all indoor and outdoor gatherings. Retail stores are limited to 15 per cent fire code capacity and all restaurants, bars, pubs and lounges are required to close to in-person service.

Members of the Medicine Hat Police Service were stationed across the street to monitor the rally, and to ensure that it remained peaceful.

No tickets have been issued as of yet, for breach of the public health order, according to the Medicine Hat Police.