Counter-protesters gather at Manitoba Legislative Building, ask Winnipeg 'Freedom Convoy' to go home

Anti-vaccine mandate protesters who have been parked outside the Manitoba Legislative Building for more than a week are being met by counter-protesters Saturday afternoon who want to send them a clear message: it's time to leave. 

Protesters carrying signs saying "vaccines save lives" and "I want my bedtime back" lined the steps outside the legislative building, across from the self-proclaimed "Winnipeg Freedom Convoy" on Broadway. 

They could be heard chanting "go home" over the noise of honking trucks. 

WATCH | Counter-protesters shout 'go home' amid honks from convoy:

Meanwhile, protesters with the convoy shouted "freedom" and sang O Canada in response. 

WATCH | Freedom Convoy protesters chant in response to counter-protest:

At around 1 p.m., police were seen arriving at the legislative building and appeared to be positioning themselves between the two groups as some counter-protesters moved closer to the convoy. 

One counter-protester was heard shouting "this is my neighbourhood" toward members of the convoy. 

WATCH | Counter-protester tells convoy, 'This is my neighbourhood':

Omar Kinnarath, one of the organizers of the counter-protest, said they want to send a message to the convoy, as well as police and the provincial government, that "what's going on is a slap in the face to this community."

"We want to tell these folks that they're wrong, and the community is going to show up and tell them that what you believe is, like, is not right, and you're causing a lot of harm by being here, and we would just wish that they would go home to their warm houses," he said. 

Demonstrators at the downtown intersection have been honking horns since last Friday in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions.

Residents in the area have said the constant honking and traffic delays have been disruptive and frustrating. There have also been reports of protest organizers setting off fireworks. 

In an effort to curb reports of excessive honking, the convoy updated its code of conduct Wednesday. It now says honking is only permitted for two minutes at the top of every hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., as well as "short intermittent honking."