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Premier condemns hate groups at Saturday protest; police review Saturday protest videos after officers punched

Author of the article:Lauren Boothby
Publishing date:Feb 23, 2021 •
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Anti-mask protestors during a rally at the Alberta legislature on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in Edmonton. PHOTO BY GREG SOUTHAM /Postmedia
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Premier Jason Kenney on Monday evening condemned hate groups and racism connected to an anti-lockdown protest at the legislature on Saturday.

In an email to Postmedia Monday evening, Kenney says that while Albertans value freedom of speech and assembly, the event’s connection to hate groups must be condemned. Promotional materials for the event included images from a 2017 white nationalist torch rally in Charlottesville and some raised tiki torches at the event.

Premier condemns hate groups at Saturday protest; police review Saturday protest videos after officers punched


“Prominent racists promoted Saturday’s protest at the legislature, and individuals attended the event from known hate groups like the ‘Soldiers of Odin’ and ‘Urban Infidels’. I condemn these voices of bigotry in the strongest possible terms,” he says in a statement.

“Albertans believe in the dignity of every human being, and have no time for these voices of division and hate, or the symbols that they represent.”

He also noted that the protest’s attendees likely included people with varying views, including some who came only because they were opposed to the public health restrictions, which he reiterated are meant to protect vulnerable people and hospital capacity.

“There is no doubt that some people came just to register their opposition to public health measures, which is their democratic right,” he wrote.

“But these people also have a responsibility to disassociate themselves from the extremists who peddle hatred and division, and who played a role in this event.”

Earlier in the day, NDP Leader Rachel Notley and others questioned why the premier had not publicly condemned the rally’s connection to hate groups. She responded to his statement in a news release noting the delay.

“His statement raised more questions than it answered. While acknowledging certain elements of the racism at the rally, he omitted others and he proceeded to defend the majority of the rally’s attendees,” she says.

“Torch rallies have been associated with some of the most heinous displays of racism in history and Albertans deserve a Premier who is unequivocal in condemning hate and racism.”

Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Leela Sharon also condemned the protest Monday\

Police reviewing protest videos

Edmonton police are looking at protest footage after four officers were allegedly punched while trying to make an arrest, according to Sgt. Mike Elliot, president of the Edmonton Police Association.

Elliot said the officers aren’t going to lose any time off because they were not injured.

“Right now we’re reviewing video footage to identify the suspect or suspects involved in this,” he says.

“Usually it’s best to try and identify and then contact that person later instead of in a heated, dynamic situation.”

Edmonton police said on Twitter Sunday one person was arrested for “causing a disturbance” and later released.

Police would not confirm the person’s identity but the man was identified as Dawid Pawlowski in a Facebook video posted by his brother, Artur Pawlowski, on Monday.

Video from the protest shows a crowd surrounding police officers as they attempt to arrest the man. The crowd follows police with several unmasked protestors screaming in officers’ faces yelling “shame!”

– With files from the Canadian Press