Backlash from the indigenous community after a Manitoba war veteran said he was forced to leave Portage Place mall.
Joseph Meconse, a decorated war vet, and respected elder, said a security guard kicked him out of Portage Place mall last Saturday.
“This little security guard walks up to me, said you got a half an hour, and then he walks away,” said Meconse.
Meconse said he sat down for tea with a friend.
A short while later, we got a plate of spaghetti, and said that's when the security guard returned.
“Just as I was going to sit down, this little guy he comes walking up and said’ you got to go, your time's up.’ ‘I asked him do I have to go now?’ He said ‘yes, you have to go now,’” Meconse said he finished his meal, got frustrated and left.
“It felt like I was degraded. Of all the things I’ve done for the public, for our people, been in the armed forces, but this little guy has no respect for anybody,” said Meconse.
Meconse has the Order of Manitoba, he served as a peacekeeper in Cyprus.
He jokingly calls Portage Place mall his office.
Meconse said he’s at the mall almost daily, for exercise and to meet with friends.
On Wednesday, days after Meconse said he was kicked out of the mall, a flash mob gathered at centre court to show support for him.
A similar sight unfolded there in March of 2013, when hundreds gathered at in support of an 80-year-old woman.
At the time, she said security told her to leave when she sat on a planter to catch her breath.
Meconse said it’s time for change at the mall, “what I want, if possible, is to teach the security manners and how to get along with and handle people with respect and politeness.”
Meconse said he's already been back to the mall since the incident, and plans to return.
He hasn't yet spoken to any mall representatives about the incident.
On Wednesday, Portage Place mall said it had no response yet to the incident.
