Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Some Cherry Fiesta parade spectators may have been surprised to see a contingent from the so-called ‘Freedom’ convoy protesters participating in the time-honoured parade on Main Street in Osoyoos on July 1.
A car and truck bearing the hallmarks of the protest movement including hashtags referencing various issues of concern to the group as well as words like “freedom” and “sovereignty” adorning the vehicle.
The truck featured a banner for an organization purportedly representing current and retired police officers in Canada questioning what they see as a conflict between COVID-19-related mandates and their oath to uphold the Constitution of Canada.
The two vehicles were followed by about 10 flag-waving individuals.
“We discussed it very much and felt that with freedom of speech we couldn’t tell them they couldn’t come in,” said Ken Baker, president of the Osoyoos Festival Society, organizer of the Cherry Fiesta.
Baker said the application to participate was approved with “a couple of caveats.” This included not handing out any pamphlets, no display of hate or obscenities, and they had to commit to not disrupting any of the other events for the rest of the day.
“They agreed with all that,” Baker said, acknowledging that as of Monday, within three days of the event, he had already received some “hate mail letters” from a few people who were incredulous that the parade committee had let the protesters take part.
“We discussed this and we felt it was better to allow them to come to hopefully avoid disrupting other festivities during the day,” Baker said, citing an incident from an earlier year not related to this particular group.
“The way they presented their entry was about patriotism for the country, flying the flag and there was no hate.”
He also noted that the group lived up to their commitment and everything went off smoothly.
