Growing hostility between Calgary Freedom March protesters and community residents on the protest route has Calgary Police Services (CPS) looking for options to reduce tensions in the beltline..CPS Police Chief Mark Neufeld spoke during a press conference on Monday and called on both sides to evaluate and reconsider their decisions around further plans..Counter-protesters irritated with the weekly marches have actively opposed the Freedom March through the Beltline community for a few weeks which has caused mounting tension..Tensions came to a head when Saturday’s Beltline residents and other anti-protest members set up a blockade along the route Freedom March protesters have walked for months..Neufeld said he’s heard and understands the frustrations of residents and the business community in the beltline..“On Saturday, our officers had the very difficult task of managing two separate but related protests that occurred on the streets of downtown Calgary,” said Neufeld..“We had resources and a plan in place to avoid this situation,” but Neufeld said both groups would not deviate from each respective plan that had them eventually meet head-on along 17 Ave. SW..Neufeld expressed frustration at the larger Freedom March protesters saying they, “refused to follow the orders of officers” and pushed past officers which he called a “marked escalation” from the group he said has been reasonably cooperative with police up until that point..“I understand that this is the first time they have refused police direction while on the ground engaged in a march or a protest in the community; that is unacceptable,” said Neufeld..Although it appeared CPS was choosing sides, Calgary’s top cop said that was not the case. The decision for officers to implement what he called a “pressure relief valve” to push the smaller group of protesters back was, in his opinion, the “most reasonable course of action” to deescalate rising tensions between the two groups..“I will reemphasize, police are not supporting any group or any ideology connected to these protests,” said Neufeld..“The role of the police is to manage the crowds and their dynamics and to ensure the safety and security of all involved.”.During the presser, Neufeld asked Freedom Marchers to take into consideration “the negative impact these ongoing protests are having on communities” and consider, with the lifting of most of the public health restrictions, “whether these protests need to continue at this time.”.He also called on those gathering to protest the march to rethink their plans “not to ramp up your efforts to take over streets.”.Neufeld said bylaw enforcement is looking at a number of municipal bylaws and “how those apply to a new environment” of protests..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
Growing hostility between Calgary Freedom March protesters and community residents on the protest route has Calgary Police Services (CPS) looking for options to reduce tensions in the beltline..CPS Police Chief Mark Neufeld spoke during a press conference on Monday and called on both sides to evaluate and reconsider their decisions around further plans..Counter-protesters irritated with the weekly marches have actively opposed the Freedom March through the Beltline community for a few weeks which has caused mounting tension..Tensions came to a head when Saturday’s Beltline residents and other anti-protest members set up a blockade along the route Freedom March protesters have walked for months..Neufeld said he’s heard and understands the frustrations of residents and the business community in the beltline..“On Saturday, our officers had the very difficult task of managing two separate but related protests that occurred on the streets of downtown Calgary,” said Neufeld..“We had resources and a plan in place to avoid this situation,” but Neufeld said both groups would not deviate from each respective plan that had them eventually meet head-on along 17 Ave. SW..Neufeld expressed frustration at the larger Freedom March protesters saying they, “refused to follow the orders of officers” and pushed past officers which he called a “marked escalation” from the group he said has been reasonably cooperative with police up until that point..“I understand that this is the first time they have refused police direction while on the ground engaged in a march or a protest in the community; that is unacceptable,” said Neufeld..Although it appeared CPS was choosing sides, Calgary’s top cop said that was not the case. The decision for officers to implement what he called a “pressure relief valve” to push the smaller group of protesters back was, in his opinion, the “most reasonable course of action” to deescalate rising tensions between the two groups..“I will reemphasize, police are not supporting any group or any ideology connected to these protests,” said Neufeld..“The role of the police is to manage the crowds and their dynamics and to ensure the safety and security of all involved.”.During the presser, Neufeld asked Freedom Marchers to take into consideration “the negative impact these ongoing protests are having on communities” and consider, with the lifting of most of the public health restrictions, “whether these protests need to continue at this time.”.He also called on those gathering to protest the march to rethink their plans “not to ramp up your efforts to take over streets.”.Neufeld said bylaw enforcement is looking at a number of municipal bylaws and “how those apply to a new environment” of protests..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
