Prince Rupert Counter Protest highlights concerns over nationwide Million March today

A look at the front of City Hall at mid morning Wednesday as 
a Counter protest to the Million March today took place

A small but passionate group with a message assembled in front of Prince Rupert City Hall this morning.  

The gathering attending to the call on social media to gather to express concerns over a national event today looking to reverse some progressive themes on gender and education in Canada.

The focus for the group was the Million March for Children, which had been promoted as a nationwide march for parental rights.  

But for many, including those at the Prince Rupert counter protest, their message and the events planned for today have come to symbolize anti 2SLGBTQI4A+ attitudes and a bid to reverse some elements of inclusion in education in BC and Canada.

The Prince Rupert gathering featured a collection of information signs to expand on their concerns, a social media photo posted prior to the event provided a sample of the message of the day for the local counter protest.

The local event did not feature the level of controversy that has been found in other parts of Canada where the two groups had arrived at the same place this morning. 

Much of that more sedate level of discourse comes as Prince Rupert does not appear to have had any organized Million March for Children take place in the community, or if it did, it was low key to invisible at mid-morning. 

Information notes from the organizers of the national event released this week suggested that the closest of the Million March events in the Northwest was in the Terrace/Kitimat region.

(Update: A smaller contingent of those in support of the Million March for Children did arrive at City Hall later in the morning, providing for their information campaign to the fountain side of City Hall)

As the Prince Rupert event got underway, Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond, who is in Vancouver this week for the UBCM convention, issued a short statement towards the days events, providing the view from City Hall.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice has yet to comment on the day's everts,  though she did forward a social media link on Tuesday related to the topic.

Also yet to comment are officials from SD52 or the elected Board of Education, neither of which have  issued any statement towards the topic.

Yesterday,  Premier David Eby outlined his concerns that the schools must remain a safe place and locations where differences are respected. 

The Premier expanded on the theme, releasing the contents of a letter he had forwarded to the BCTF.

click to enlarge

Update: Over the noon hour, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice did present a statement towards the day's events, relaying it through her social media stream.

Items of note on Education in the Northwest can be reviewed here.

More on the days events nationally and in BC can be explored from our politically focused blog D'Arcy McGee's features.

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