Counter-demonstration to anti-Muslim protest in Vancouver meant to be family-friendly: organizer
Posted August 18, 2017 12:17 pm.
Last Updated August 19, 2017 3:11 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – More than 3,000 people say they want to attend tomorrow’s dueling rallies at City Hall in Vancouver, only a couple dozen of whom say they will be at the anti-Muslim protest. Organizers are trying to make sure the event will be safe.
The counter-demonstration is meant to be a family event — not a protest, according to one of the organizers, Rae Figursky.
She calls the event a celebration of our community to show the world we are not what the anti-Muslim protest makes us out to be.
“We’re not having a debate. We’re not going to be shouting across the room at people, even in a formal debate. We are having a demonstration of what our community is and what it should be.”
Figursky says the point of the rally is to make everyone feel included in our society.
“We made a point of saying this is intended to be a family-friendly event. It’s not meant to be excluding anyone who wouldn’t feel safe to be at City Hall on a Saturday afternoon.”
She finds it’s encouraging to see thousands of people say they are going to attend the anti-racism event with only dozens saying they will protest on the other side, but we won’t know how everything will turn out until it actually happens.
“We are making this a very positive event, so whether or not anyone shows up to that other rally, it doesn’t make a difference to us.”
She hopes everyone who shows up on either side of this issue will be peaceful. “There is no need for violence. There is no reason for violence.”
The counter-demonstration is scheduled for 12:45 p.m., while the anti-Muslim protest should start at 2 p.m.
