Beltline protests widely peaceful, but six arrests made: police chief
CBC
Anti-mandate and counter-protesters showed up to demonstrate Saturday in Calgary's downtown, but stayed mostly separated and confined to parks and city hall, a departure from last week's heated meeting along 17th Avenue S.W.
The Calgary police service asked protesters earlier in the week to 'stay away' from the Beltline area. On Friday, police were granted a temporary court injunction to help manage the expected demonstration.
Despite these warnings, protesters from both sides turned out to demonstrate amid a heightened police presence and temporary road closures along 12th Avenue S.W. and 13th Avenue S.W.
In a press conference on Saturday evening, Chief Mark Neufeld said that while for the most part the demonstrations ended in a "peaceful resolution," six arrests were made and dozens of tickets were issued.
According to Neufeld, one arrest was for an individual who had an outstanding warrant. The other five were a result of injunction violations. One individual who was charged with breaching the injunction was also charged with assaulting a police officer after resisting arrest.
Neufeld said that he believed all individuals arrested were affiliated with the anti-mandate protest group. He said he expects that bylaw will be sending out further tickets in the mail related to parking offences.
Protests began around 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Neufeld said that anti-mandate protesters stayed mostly within the bounds of Central Memorial park. After a negotiation with police, a group split off to walk to City Hall to demonstrate.
Neufeld said that counter-protesters remained in Peter Lougheed park, although a smaller group did travel to Central Memorial Park later in the day.
Police kept groups separate while they were both present at Central Memorial park, but Neufeld said that exchanges between the two groups were "very volatile and very tense."
Neufeld said that while police saw a high level of cooperation from both groups, there were demonstrators who remained in defiance of police direction.
"There were [portions of both groups] that were intent on coming together and engaging in conflict," said Neufeld.
"Some of what's going on here is not really about causes as much anymore as it is conflict … that doesn't bode well, to be frank."
For the first time in more than a year, 17th avenue remained free of anti-mandate protesters, a change welcomed by local residents and business owners.
Peter Oliver, president of the Beltline neighborhood's association, said that while he feels the city is not out of the woods yet when it comes to Saturday demonstrations, this afternoon was a pleasant surprise.
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