If you fence it, will they come?
Metal barricades are now up in the heart of downtown Barrie as the city's way of hopefully dissuading anti-lockdown protesters from continuing to hold illegal rallies at Meridian Place.
The so-called 'freedom rallies' have been held for seven weeks straight at the downtown square.
On Thursday, Mayor Jeff Lehman issued an emergency order to cordon off the area on Dunlop Street East where crowds of protesters have been congregating every Saturday featuring a series of speakers.
The fencing arrived Friday at 2 p.m. and workers began constructing the barriers that will now block off Meridian Place and Memorial Square.
The city has said the fencing will remain in place “until such gatherings are no longer prohibited through legislation or regulations."
On Thursday, Lehman urged people who have been attending the rallies to stay home and help stop the spread of the virus.
“It is our hope that the fences discourage the gatherings that have been taking place,” he said. “We are asking residents to not gather in groups anywhere and only go out for essential purposes.”
Also on Thursday, Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said officers will continue to stick to their operational plans for the gathering, should it happen elsewhere, but added they have had discussions with the organizer about not hosting the rallies at all.
“We have spoken to the organizer and explained there are options available and things to consider in these situations,” Leon said. “We hope that the group will refrain from meeting any further (and will) adhere to the health guidelines.”
Leon continued by saying the police department’s “emphasis has always been focused and will remain focused on the continued safety of our community and our officers.”
The most recent rally took place last Saturday and saw some pushback from people who are upset that the anti-lockdown protesters continue to contravene public health regulations. They created noise to drown out some of the anti-lockdown speakers.
The Barrie rallies have typically attracted between 300 and 500 people.
Police said about 10 people were ticketed with $880 fines at last Saturday’s ‘freedom rally' for breaching Ontario’s stay-at-home order. Officers also handed out nine tickets during the previous two Saturdays, including one on April 10 to the organizer and eight on April 17 to the organizer and seven attendees.
In Midland, meanwhile, OPP officers ticketed seven people out of 10 in attendance at a similar protest last weekend.
