LETTER – Taking to the City Hall sidewalk to defend local democracy

Sometimes, there is a turning point for a person and I recognized that point when I saw the woman holding her walking stick being threatened with arrest for speaking out of place in Council chambers.  There she was, wearing what could be taken as a typical purple sweater and wanting to thank the mayor for what he has been trying to do.

She was the turning point in how I look at what has happened to the face of democracy on the municipal level.  She stood toe to toe facing a female CSO who was barking at her, threatening that she would be dealing with the RCMP if she didn’t leave.  A bulky-looking male CSO stood there attempting to intimidate a woman who could well have been the age of his grandmother.  And the Director of the CSOs sat mute in his chair as he watched the scene unfold.

On Tuesday morning, May 28, 2024, my friend Gary Warman and I went to walk the sidewalk in front of and beside City Hall.  We took our home-made signs and carried them to express the message we had on our hearts about the democracy we see being drained away like sand through an hourglass. A passerby was kind enough to take our photo showing the signs we had made. (Gary on the right & John on the left.)

There is a bit of room left for more people to join together in a peaceful show of support for democracy.

Thank you, brave little woman wearing the purple sweater and carrying your walking stick.

JOHN NOAKES,
Citizen of Westmount