By Don Urquhart, Times-Chronicle
Alarming incidents related to the ongoing protests have hit schools and businesses while the first anti-protest incident sees nails being thrown on Hwy. 97.
Secondary schools in both Osoyoos and Oliver have been targeted by verbally aggressive protesters who have harassed students over mask wearing. In the high profile Oliver case a woman was captured on video hurling abusive and racist remarks at Southern Okanagan Secondary School students.
And on two consecutive Saturdays mask-less protesters have stormed some local businesses frightening staff with their taunts and shouting. A fast food restaurant was the first to be victimized at the beginning of the local protests on Jan 29.
At Shoppers Drug Mart last Saturday mask-less protesters with a large dog entered the store banging a drum, shouting anti-mask comments at staff including racist slurs aimed at the store’s Associate/Owner S.T. Huh.
Huh says about a dozen people entered the store “who basically wanted to shame me because I kicked out one of their members on Thursday for not wearing a mask.” Huh offered the woman the option of delivery or curbside service, but the woman refused saying she would return without a mask.
Police were called but arrived after the protesters had already left. Huh says he’s personally not too bothered by the incident but is concerned for his staff, some of whom took it personally and even now are apprehensive about going around town.
“Everyone should have the right to protest and have their voice heard which is fundamental to democracy but I think coming in here, we don’t have control over the public health order and threatening our staff, I don’t think that’s the right thing to do,” he says.
He’s received nasty calls and threats of legal action as well as threats to report him to the corporate office, he says.
“I’ve been getting phone calls this morning saying not such nice things. I’m pretty thick-skinned so I’ll get through it. I’m just more worried about my staff because they don’t really handle it the way I do, so I’m just worried about them.”
Huh, who moved here only last November from Vernon, says he feels like he’s painted a giant target on his back. “This incident really kind of soured me. I’m just sad it has to come to this.”
And in the first reported anti-protest incident an individual is being investigated by the RCMP after allegedly throwing nails on Hwy. 97.
“We have had a report of a person not involved in the convoy spreading nails on the road and we are investigating that and we have that person identified and we will be moving forward and recommending charges,” said Osoyoos RCMP Sgt. Jason Bayda.
“I also want to discourage people from taking vigilante measures. If you have concerns, report them to us and we will address it. The main thing is keeping this peaceful and don’t get yourself into trouble by taking things into your own hands,” Bayda said.
