The MP for Kenora says the ongoing COVID restrictions rally in Ottawa has been for the most part mainly peaceful.
Eric Melillo can see the protest from his office on Parliament Hill.
However, Melillo condemns stories of people spreading hate, flying Nazi flags and desecrating the National War Memorial and other historical monuments.
He says the action from only a few is unacceptable.
“I was disgusted to see some of those acts and it was incredibly, incredibly disappointing to see some of that hateful rhetoric that’s just being displayed on Parliament.”
Melillo says he hasn’t witnessed such action and notes it appears the crowd is starting to thin out.
The Conservative supports the original purpose of the demonstration but hints it is time to wind it down.
“When you have a demonstration that is blocking critical infrastructure, as it is now, blocking some roads, there is concern. We have to ensure that emergency vehicles and those that are necessary can access these roads and have that support and that has been a challenge,” says Melillo.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the right to peaceful protest is core to our Canadian identity but stresses, “People have to move on. Let the people of Ottawa live. Let the businesses open up.”
It was truly disturbing to see Nazi symbols displayed at Canada’s Parliament today. These are symbols of hate, racism, and evil that have no place in this country, let alone on the grounds of Parliament. (1/2)
— Eric Melillo (@Eric_Melillo) January 30, 2022
