Confrontations at Red Deer anti-racism march, but RCMP keep counter-protesters at bay

RED DEER (CityNews) – An anti-racism protest took place in Red Deer, Alta., on Sunday afternoon, and though there were no physical altercations, counter-protesters did cause controversy.

Hundreds of protesters walked from Coronation Park to Red Deer City Hall, demanding racism end in the city.

Counter-protesters planned a gathering of their own in the same park, coinciding with the timing of the march. At City Hall, tensions heightened as counter-protesters began yelling at the peaceful protesters.

**WARNING (video below): offensive language**

.@BIA__4Equity are at Cityhall to have a community conversation & counter-protesters are still trying to enter. RCMP are blocking all the entrances. pic.twitter.com/fA4dEpyjlB

— Rachelle Elsiufi (@Rachelleelsiufi) October 4, 2020

The rally comes just weeks after a Black Lives Matter protest in Red Deer was shut down and cancelled due a violent outbreak after counter-protesters were involved in verbal altercations and physical violence.

Organizers of that event were disappointed in the response from the RCMP, feeling the police presence did not contain the counter-protesters.

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At Sunday’s event, RCMP set up barricades and arrived in numbers. Streets throughout the downtown area were also blockaded to allow protesters to walk through safely.

Some counter-protesters breached the barriers of both the ceremony and at City Hall, but RCMP confronted them and formed an officer-blockade so as not to allow them to get close.

“I’m not going to ask you again,” one police officer told a counter-protester at the park, asking for identification.

A confrontation between RCMP and counter-protesters here in Red Deer at the Peace Walk. “Im not going to ask you again, can I see your drivers license?” @BTCityNewsCGY pic.twitter.com/18b2H2sgSA

— Taylor Braat (@TaylorBraat_) October 4, 2020

Prior to marching, the protest organizers from the group Black and Indigenous Alliance Red Deer said they did not feel safe in the presence of the counter-protesters, despite increased police presence.

“I really feel that it’s great that they have them separated today,” said one organizer. “It’s a shame that it took violent action to get the RCMP to respond.”

The Peace Walk is chanting their messaging. “Black Lives Matter.” pic.twitter.com/6Qm5So2GUS

— Taylor Braat (@TaylorBraat_) October 4, 2020

When the march toward city hall began, the protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter” and “Indigenous Lives Matter” along the way. When they arrived, they held a ‘community conversation’ about racism in the city.

Organizers say the counter-protests are the exact reason these rallies need to continue being held.