Hundreds turned out Sunday in Petersburg to call for an end to health mandates and COVID-19 mitigation measures. A convoy rounded the airport loop twice in a long line of dump trucks, heavy equipment, pickup trucks and ATVs stretching the length of main street and beyond. They displayed U.S. and Canadian flags and signs calling for an end to COVID health measures and vaccination requirements. It was in support of the thousands of truckers and who have gathered in Ottawa since late January to protest a vaccine mandate for essential workers. Speakers at the rally in Petersburg protested the local government’s emergency response and health mandates from earlier in the pandemic. They also opposed continuing to require masks in local schools. Joe Viechnicki attended and put together this audio postcard of some of the sounds from Sunday’s gathering.
Speakers Sunday were Michele Pfundt, Joel Clark and Rob Schwartz with Kelsa Sperl singing the national anthem. Here are some excerpts.
(This story has been corrected for the spelling of Michele Pfundt’s last name.)