Students at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School in Steinbach, Manitoba in Canada staged a walkout on Thursday to protest the mask mandates and Covid restrictions.
Parents and residents of Steinbach, Manitoba cheered on the kids and shouted, “Freedom!” as they exited the school.
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Parents shouted at the media, demanding they “Report the truth!” as the kids joined the parents and local residents in the parking lot.
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Loud snowmobiles revved their engines as they drove by to show their support for the kids. A traveling concession stand was seen parked in the lot as students waved signs showing their support for “Dani,” a beloved security guard who was fired from the school for refusing to be vaccinated.
Students in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada stage a walk out during school to protest mandates and mask mandates. pic.twitter.com/7dHiytTP8a
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) February 11, 2022
Outside of the school, a teacher with a police officer standing nearby, was caught on camera manhandling a 15-year-old boy who refused to go back inside.
Police manhandle and slam 15-year-old into a wall during the student walkout today in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. pic.twitter.com/cdT8fKw1xO
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) February 11, 2022
“We all have a freedom”
CBC News reports – Carrying a sign saying “Mandate Freedom,” Neil Krahn said he decided to participate in the protest because he thinks people should have a choice about whether to wear masks or get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“It is fine if you want to wear it — that is your choice. If you want to go get your vaccine, that is your choice. As a Canadian … we all have a freedom,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if you want to do it or you don’t want to do it, we should all accept each other.”
He added that the pandemic restrictions have had a detrimental impact on his small business.
Dani Hiebert says restrictions also had a negative impact on her livelihood.
She was a security guard at the school for 2½ years when she was put on unpaid leave because she chose not to reveal her COVID-19 vaccination status to her employer, the Hanover School Division, nor adhere to testing three times a week.
“That is for my personal information. Only my doctor knows that, but nobody else needs to know,” Hiebert said. “That is discrimination.
“I’m a healthy person. I’ve got natural immunity. I feel great. I do not need to be tested,” she added.
She was later fired.
A group of students from the school held up signs in support of Hiebert. She didn’t know there would be specific support for her amid the protesters until the last minute.
