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Coronavirus conspiracy theorists return to Vancouver streets in protest (VIDEOS)

Kenneth Chan
Kenneth Chan
|
Apr 27 2020, 3:10 am
Coronavirus conspiracy theorists return to Vancouver streets in protest (VIDEOS)
Coronavirus conspiracy theorist protest in downtown Vancouver on April 26, 2020. (@bbebrahimi / Twitter)

For the second time this month, coronavirus conspiracy theorists have taken to the streets of Vancouver in protest against the current COVID-19 health safety measures that have resulted in the shutdown of the economy.

Protected by a Vancouver Police escort, a group of between 70 and 100 people stopped traffic in downtown Vancouver on Sunday afternoon, as they made their way along Beach Avenue and down Burrard Street, before circling back into the West End via Robson Street.

In the live video stream of the protest recorded by Dan Dicks, a self-described “investigative journalist” and a “documentary filmmaker,” passersby and residents in the balconies of the buildings along the marching route could be heard yelling “go home” while others heckled and cursed the group.

Police were seen conducting a search of an individual outside St. Paul’s Hospital, but it is not immediately clear whether this person is a protester.

Dicks alleged eggs were thrown at them during the march, and despite their pleas for reduced health safety precautions, some protesters could be seen wearing masks.

Anti-quarantine movements have emerged elsewhere in Canada and the United States, and this particular act of disobedience was far larger than the handful of protesters that showed up to the April 12 protest in Vancouver.

These groups are against the physical distancing and self-isolation measures that have led to mass layoffs and closures of businesses, which have been deemed by governments, health officials, and experts as necessary to prevent global death tolls reaching in the millions. Some have even called the coronavirus a “hoax.”

“This lockdown is not justifying the numbers. It doesn’t add up,” said Dicks today.

As of the time of writing, there are 2.965 million known and confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, including 206,265 deaths. Within Canada, there are 46,895 confirmed cases, with 2,560 succumbing to the illness. Across the border in the United States, there are 985,027 confirmed cases and 55,383 deaths.

COVID-19 is known to be asymptomatic in some individuals, which means they do not experience any symptoms but can still easily spread the illness to other people. While the coronavirus has been particularly lethal for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, health officials say more recent data shows the illness and the adverse symptoms are being experienced by all age groups.

Last week, after conspiracy theorists announced their plans for the protest, Vancouver West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert took to Facebook to address the concerns raised by his constituents.

“In times of crisis there will always be those who attempt to shine the light on themselves to take advantage of others fears, and spread their own uninformed conspiracy theories. It’s disgusting, but always the way,” wrote Chandra Herbert.

“The event planned for English Bay is one such event, organized by people connected to Holocaust deniers. I’ve alerted the Ministry of Public Safety for their information, and reached out to the Vancouver Police who have the responsibility for enforcing orders. I don’t want our community’s safety threatened by selfish people who won’t do their part to stop COVID-19… Let’s keep staying positive, staying close to home, and looking out for each other — together we will win this fight.”

In response to the first protest earlier this month, BC health minister Adrian Dix said these individuals represent a tiny minority, and the public cannot afford to lose sight on being part of the effective collective solution to control the rate of growth of the deadly epidemic in the province.

“That may be inevitable in these times that people are attempting to, essentially, promote themselves. What I think, genuinely, if you look in any depth at their other views, are marginal views,” said Dix.

“Don’t allow people who are attempting to promote themselves by using the suffering of others to distract us. Don’t promote them, don’t look at them, but focus on what we need to do together.”

Kenneth ChanKenneth Chan
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