Anti-Mask Rally Told Dialogue Needed On The Issue

It may have been a cooler and a windier day but it did not quell the spirits of about 35 concerned citizens opposed to compulsuary public mask wearing who rallied in front of the Moose Jaw Public Library on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to those gathered Erin Reich, who was not the organizer but had been asked to speak, said that everyone there came from different backgrounds and all had various reasons to be opposed to compulsuary mask wearing.

Some of the reasons were valid personal reasons and experiences while others’ concerns were based upon new knowledge about the coronavirus which causes COVID - 19, she said.

“Those of you who gather here today come here with various concerns,” she said shortly after the group sang an acappela version of “Oh Canada” to start the rally.

In a lengthy prepared speech Reich spoke not only about her own personal experiences and how wearing a mask causes her to relive a trauma but also about how for others there are scientific as well as a freedom aspect to opposing compulsuary mask wearing in public.

Erin Reich (with the megaphone) addresses the rally - MJ Independent photo

She was previously one of five delegations who spoke at an August 31st special Council meeting against a proposed bylaw to make it compulsuary to wear masks in City facilities and while riding the bus.

Reich spoke about personal experience and how she had lost three grandparents over the past two years - not from COVID - 19 - and how the virus would have adverse effects on most rally attendees as they have family or friends if they caught it would likely die.

“It is very unlikely there isn’t anyone here who doesn’t know someone who this virus have serious concerns if they should become ill (from it),” Reich said. “We fear for the lives of our loved ones, we fear for ourselves.”

The length of the lockdowns was a major concern Reich said for many people.

Freedom was very important to those who had rallied in opposition to wearing masks. Freedom was so important to the group they were not opposed to counter protestors showing up in opposition, she said.

“Counter protestors are welcome here because we respect freedoms.”

Reich decried some of the things though opponents had try to paint those opposing masks as uneducated and not researching the issue and the facts surrounding the virus and compulsuary mask wearing.

She spoke about counter protestors in Regina who wore signs saying people against compulsuary mask wearing were “idiots” or another sign which said “nobody here has higher than a grade ten education” as not willing to enter into dialogue of the issue.

“It is easy to understand the other side must be stupid,” she said about some of the group’s detractors, adding “people think differently because they have different evidence…some may have fallen into an echo chamber and their views are rarely challenged.”

Freedom was important to Reich because “we can only do these things because we are free,” she said to the crowd’s approval.

Questions needed to be asked about the pandemic because more knowledge had been gained about the virus over the last seven months from when the lockdown began in March.

She said some of the questions that needed to be asked were why cases and deaths in Saskatchewan were lower than other places such as Italy? What can we learn about other places where different measures were taken?

“We have quite a lot of information and need to be thinking about it together,” Reich said.

The masks themselves were a problem with different materials rendering different results. improving masks to stop more droplets have other determental effects.

“The higher filtration a mask has the more problems people have with it she claimed.”

A rally attendee with his sign opposing compulsuary masks - MJ Independent photo

Reich spoke further about people losing rights guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms due to restrictions imposed by the government. The violations were the right to travel, the right to religions worship and freedom to associate in groups.

“Each one of these rights has been violated as they (government restrictions) were put into place. It violates the Charter,” Reich said, adding “the onus is on government (to prove) its anti-Charter measures reduce the risks.”

She mentioned the Justice Centre For Constitutional Freedom and the argument that the government restrictions were too excessive given the real risk posed by the virus.

“We need to have a healthy fear. A fear based at the level of risk.”

Reich said the facts show not only low numbers of people who caught the virus but also it having a very low mortality rate - there has only been 24 deaths in Saskatchewan although models from the Saskatchewan Health Authority initially predicted COVID - 19 would kill thousands in the province. As of May 25th all of the deaths attributable to COVID - 19 in the province were in long term care facilities, she said.

The excess of fear was actually having a negative impact provincially as well as locally she claimed adding such things as postponed medical procedures and surgeries, drug addiction was increasing and increasing suicide rates are all attributable to the fear surrounding COVID - 19. The impact of the restrictions in the end take more lives than the virus itself, she claimed.

“Advertising for suicide hotline signs appearing in Moose Jaw is related,” she said.

Following her speaking at least two rally attendees spoke out against compulsuary public mask wearing. Neither was solicited to express their views but did so voluntarily.

Comments were “wearing masks is not natural”, “this is an assualt on your freedom. The devil hates you”, “what the government is doing is illegal” up to claims the Anti-Christ was involved and “it is brown shirt syndrome you have seen in Nazi Germany.”

One attendee went so far as to say Bill Gates was the anti-Christ which most attendees did not seem to agree with.

“I am a woman who loves men, but they could have chosen a better looking Anti-Christ (than Bill Gates),” the attendee said. A claim only one other attendee appeared to support.

An acappela version of Oh Canada was sung prior to the rally - MJ Independent photo

Post Rally Interview

Following her speech Reich spoke to MJ Independent where she was asked her reaction to statements made last Tuesday, September 22nd, by Premier Scott Moe about some people’s reaction to COVID - 19.

“It is something to take seriously but also you need to think about it carefully and look at all of the data,” she said when asked about comments Premier Scott Moe made that some residents were not taking the pandemic threat seriously enough. She saw the virus as real.

“The COVID - 19 pandemic it is not a farce…we should not stigmatize anyone in our society for any reason that be wearing a mask or no matter what that might be,” Premier Moe told reporters on Tuesday. “COVID is real. It is a real threat to not only our economy but it a threat to our family members.”

Premier Moe has so far resisted calls to make it compulsuary to wear a mask in public places. He has stated that people should be wearing masks where proper physical distancing of two meters is not possible. He has at the same time allowed schools, municipalities and individual groups and businesses decide by themselves if they will have complusuary mask rules.

Reich said what was necessary was to have a conversation and look at all of the data and arguments (perspectives) on the issue.

“It is something we need to be doing in Saskatchewan right now…I think it is the correct thing to do. It makes more sense to share our different perspectives,” she said.

For Reich personally the wearing of the mask triggers trauma.

She is a sexual assault survivor who has spent years for the most part isolated and only recently started to venture out more and speak publicly.

“For me it triggers trauma,” Reich said about wearing a mask going on to state her perspective was “unique” but still important to be heard.

During her rally speech she spoke about the potentially large numbers of women who have been sexually assaulted and how forcing them to wear masks could trigger trauma that goes back years.

“For eight years leaving my home was difficult. Only a little whle ago I was able to feel safe to go outside my home,” she had told the rally.

When stores and public places enact compulsuary mask wearing policies it means she loses the ability to access those places.

“Most of them if they have a strong statement on their door you don’t go in…in other places you just go in,” she said, adding she now goes into the Superstore without wearing a mask but it was after explaining to them the reasons why.

She admitted she found it tiring and stressful to have to re-explain the reasons why to employees and others as to why she should not have to wear a mask. The stress comes from re-explaining why she suffers from a traumatic event.

“I actually have not talked to many people for several years,” she said adding it was often difficult to do so and took time to regain her composure.

“It is going to take me a week to recover from speaking at this rally.”

Reich is a survivor of sexual assault.

Other stores not requiring mandatory mask wearing is where Reich prefers to shop because “I always go there first as they have been very respectful to me.”

Asked if she opposed some of the other measures such as handwashing, using hand sanitizer and more cleaning in facilities Reich said for the most part she did not except when it came to the use of chemicals in some cleaning products and hand sanitizers.

“I would always prefer to use soap and water,” she said, adding “I think most of the (cleaning) measures are just good practice…I do have some concerns about some of the chemicals in the cleaning products.”

Despite the divide in viewpoints between the anti-mask and pro-mask groups Reich said there is roo for dialogue on the issue.

“I really do believe in people’s capacity to think rationally and then engage in discussion.”