Victoria ‘freedom rally’ opposes ‘politicization of science’ amid ongoing pandemic

"We will push back against widespread propaganda, by producing our own media, and advancing our own narrative, instead of succumbing to the one being pushed on us," read a release by the organizers.

Organizers conveyed they wanted to end lockdowns, mask mandates, state of emergency declarations, prevent "vaccine mandates and coercion," and return standard international and domestic travel, reported Chek News.

The vaccine card was rolled out on September 13, mandating that residents have at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to access non-essential services and recreational facilities. They have until October 24 to get fully vaccinated to access non-essential services.

"We will not accept the rampant politicization of science and medicine, and we will return these institutions to being neutral sources of information for the benefit of society, over government and corporate interests," continues the release.

Soon after BC launched its "vaccine passport" program for a myriad of 'non-essential' services, several businesses defied the public health order requiring them to check customers for proof of vaccination.

"We see that COVID is rapidly becoming a new Religion of Fear and is being invoked to justify tyranny using the same repressive mechanisms of state control overdress, language, and social interactions that have been used historically in past theocratic regimes," it adds.

A second demonstration is also planned for Sunday at the same location.

As of Friday, nearly 79 percent of eligible BC residents are vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated individuals represented a mere five percent of cases in critical care in the province and accounted for less than 14 percent of all COVID hospitalizations in the past two weeks.