Hundreds gather for counter-protests at Manitoba Legislative Building
Hundreds of people gathered for duelling protests at the Manitoba Legislative Building Saturday afternoon.
On one side of Broadway, the group that has occupied the area since Feb. 4, chanted anti-mandate rhetoric.
About 100 metres away on the steps of the Legislature, several hundred people formed a counter-protest calling for an end to hourly honking and congested downtown streets.
The group chanted sayings like "go home" and "parking violation" throughout the afternoon.
"This is unacceptable. The right to protest ends when you start to harass the people who live in this area of downtown," said Keira Desmond, who took part in the counter-protest.
"People can't sleep. They keep saying they turn off their horns at night, but what about the people who work overnight? When do they get their rest?"
Caleb Brown, a co-organizer of the anti-mandate protest, said he respects people's choice to counter-protest.
"We understand there is opposition, and we understand there are people who are upset at what we are doing," he said. "We're doing everything we can to mitigate that while still having our voice heard."
Leading up to the protests, the Winnipeg Police Service said it would be there to ensure everything remained peaceful.
"The number of officers will be bolstered this weekend to ensure that demonstrations remain peaceful and non-violent," said police in a statement on Friday.
A police helicopter and a few dozen officers equipped with helmets could be seen at the grounds of Legislature on Saturday.
CTV News has reached out to the province for comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.