In Manitoba on Wednesday, an intense flurry of protests and counter-protests centered around LGBTQ2S+ rights in schools emerged. Stepping to the fore was a demonstration known as the ‘1 Million March 4 Children.’ This rally, which was meticulously planned out in numerous Canadian cities including Winnipeg, Brandon, Winkler, Steinbach and Dauphin, asserted a call to action for the removal of sexual orientation and gender identity curriculum, pronouns, gender ideology, and the proposition of mixed bathrooms within educational institutions.
This contentious wave of advocacy was met with pushback as counter-protests were hastily arranged in various points across Manitoba. Notably, a substantial rebuttal was manifested at the Manitoba Legislative Building, where the torch was passed to advocates aiming to assert support for LGBTQ2S+ youth.
The Winnipeg Police Service, cognizant of the potential for disruption, issued a warning to the public through social media. The police cautioned that these politically charged gatherings could inadvertently trigger temporary closures of the streets and potentially lead to a delay in vehicular movement.
Highlighting points of concern, the police stated that one faction is expected to move from Winnipeg City Hall to Portage and Main before retracing their steps back. Simultaneously, another group plans to march from The Forks to the Legislative grounds navigating their way through York Avenue, southbound on Main Street, and then Broadway. These protests reflect the ongoing controversy about inclusivity and rights within the classroom.
