Local anti-vaccine protesters standing up for their rights

Re: Criminal charges warranted if anti-vaxxers don’t change their ways, Jan. 19

After reading this editorial online, I couldn’t help but notice that the picture used did not match what was being said about the protesters. You make them sound like Antifa in your editorial, when what I see in the picture is mostly just regular normal people, standing up for their rights. Rights that are being taken away, one at a time. If someone doesn’t stand up, who will?

In the picture you used, I do not see one protester “wearing camo,” nor do I see “bandanas covering their faces.” As stated in your editorial.

What I do see are demonstrators standing in front of Peterborough Public Health. Protesters are supposed to chant and wave signs. That’s what protesters do — protest.

I think our country is divided enough and our city is divided regarding vaccine mandates. The last thing we need is for the Examiner to cause more division by taking sides and inciting more hate and getting people angry and riled up over a group of demonstrators who are only demonstrating, as it is their right to do.

The health-care system in Peterborough has also been severely affected and the shortage of medical and health staff is sorely affected also.

It is important that Canada stay a free and democratic society. The right to protest is a right for freedom of expression. I do not agree with protesters being violent or showing up on someone’s private property.

Peaceful protesting has been a part of our country since we became a country. Please remember that if we did not have demonstrators actively participating in their right as a Canadian citizen to do so, many things in our country would not have come to pass. Cheryl Volpe, Peterborough