In Collingwood, at least 100 people walked First Street on Saturday (March 20) as part of the World Wide Rally For Freedom, an international, social-media-based movement calling on people to protest in communities near them.
The protest in Collingwood was one of several that took place simultaneously across Ontario, Canada, and Internationally in countries including England, the Netherlands, and Australia. The demonstrations were meant to pressure governments to lift COVID-related restrictions.
Samuel Greenfield, who splits his time between Meaford and Thornhill, brought his whole family to the event in Collingwood.
“My main concern is … let’s stick with the data, let’s stick with the facts,” he said in a phone interview on Monday. “I just feel that the restrictions are causing probably a good deal more harm than any benefit they are providing.”
Greenfield argued COVID-19 is not as deadly as originally predicted, and said the restrictions in place in Ontario and in other places around the world “don’t make sense anymore.”
He said the current restrictions in Ontario infringe on people’s rights for freedom of worship and freedom of assembly.
“I don’t think those restrictions meet that threshold of reasonable limitation according to the charter … this is just a totally absurd overreaction,” he said. “Places like Florida … they’re pretty much wide open … but it’s not like the sky is falling.”
Based on images and video captured during the event, not many (if any) of the protesters were wearing masks or following recommendations for physical distancing.
“If somebody felt it was a good idea to wear a mask, they could have,” said Greenfield. “Those of us who were there, we’re not worried … I wasn’t wearing a mask, I didn’t feel it was necessary. I’m not sick, I’m not concerned about it. I have a good immune system. Why would I wear a mask?”
The father of three said he’s concerned about the precedents being set with COVID restrictions and what it means for his children’s future.
Greenfield said it is reasonable for governments to take steps to protect long-term care facilities and hospitals, but the restrictions shouldn't be applied en masse.
“What’s not reasonable is to treat everyone as though they are sick,” he said. “Being free comes with some risks, and that freedom … ought to be yours to decide on an individual basis how you respond to a threat.”
Though Greenfield didn’t organize the Collingwood event, and wasn’t sure who the local organizers were, he said he was passionate about the issues impacting his and his family’s freedoms.
Protesters carried signs with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms displayed, and phrases such as “freedom over fear.”
Some also carried signs from the “No More Lockdowns” campaign spearheaded by MPP Randy Hillier.
He said the group of protesters was not “homogenous” and there were those “kooky” conspiracy theorists with views he doesn’t share.
“It’s true there is a virus going around ... But there are real consequences to [these restrictions],” he said, referring to mental health impacts, and postponed surgeries and screening procedures for other diseases as well as the impact other countries are facing as parts of the North American economy shut down or scale back.
“Let’s not just be a whole bunch of selfish people who are so afraid of some minuscule threat here in the first world that we just wreck everything … it’s about proportionality, looking at the numbers, and just being reasonable,” he said.
There was another protest in Collingwood before the March 20 demonstration. On March 6, a group of protesters marched along First Street calling for an end to lockdowns. Collingwood was in the grey/lockdown restriction zone at the time.
Currently, Collingwood and the rest of the Simcoe-Muskoka region are under the red zone restrictions from the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework.
