The long-scheduled March 5th Freedom Convoy was a frank success, drawing a crowd of thousands of protesters to once more clamour for the end of COVID mandates and the restoration of all civil liberties.

Freedom Convoy @ BC Parliament in Victoria: 2022/03/05 12:21:16

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Freedom Convoy protesters gather before steps of BC Parliament in Victoria to listen to speakers.

Thousands of Freedom Convoy protesters gather on the lawn of the Parliament in Victoria, BC

The size of the crowd was such that it was difficult to capture; at its peak, the entire lawn was teeming with people. To put things into perspective: the parking lot on Kingston street was crammed full of participants’ cars, even on the lawn, with an estimated 450 vehicles and probably about 1000 riders—and that was only a fraction of the parked cars in the vicinity, and many protesters came on foot or used public transportation. So 5000 would be a realistic estimate.

Parked Freedom Convoy vehicles on Kingston street.

Several notable speakers answered the call of We Unify Canada, to the delight of the crowd. While the speakers’ tone was optimistic, they also reminded those attending how much has been sacrificed for what will certainly be remembered at best as a global public health policy debacle, while the divisiveness drove otherwise close people against each other, and especially against dissenters. They spoke of lost friendships, lost jobs, lost businesses, lost opportunities, and a deeper sense of loss, that of rights we all used to take for granted, to be replaced with prejudice and hate. Their call for a return to normalcy was also a call for a return to proper civil discourse, science-based public health policy, freedom of choice with informed consent, and the end of coercion and fear-mongering.

Then the protesters left the grounds of the legislative assembly, at around 15h30, to march all together on Government street.

Freedom Convoy protesters walk on Government street in Victoria, BC

Notably absent were counter-protesters; I counted three, and one’s grievances actually pertained to Ukraine (because they’re obviously related). Same number as last week, when one sported a sign reading “My mask keeps me safe” even though it was worn inside-out (which is disturbingly common, by the way).

I do not even dare hope that such a display will silence critics’ claims that all these people are a mere fringe minority with unacceptable views. COVID may be curable, but there is no cure for bigotry—especially among politicians. That’s why political pressure and civil disobedience are necessary.