Dear editor:

Although I realize it was not your newspaper that published such a negative article about our rally outside town hall, I felt it best to write to you while acknowledging the obvious bias of NOTL’s other publication.

Once again, the “Local jokal” has done an injustice to the people.

They stood behind our local government and supported them by falsifying information, leaving members of what they called the “angry mob” looking like criminals who have “tarnished NOTL,” as someone noted on social media.

I suppose it makes sense, though, as that publication has often misquoted people and not corrected the record.

Not only did I, as the organizer of the protest, feel that everything was rather calm considering how angry we all were, but so did my crowd control volunteers and the police officers who were there the entire time.

The bullhorn was used for chanting, for reading off the lies of our elected officials pre-election, for advising people to stay on the grass and for letting everyone know when councillors and mayor had arrived.

Not once did anyone suggest that people swarm the entrances. I’ve also read online and in the paper that vulgar language, racial slurs and inappropriate insults were used by members of our “mob.”

We have since determined that two men took part in such goings on behind the town office, while councillors were entering.

If we are able to identify these men, we will make it clear they are no longer welcome as part of our group.

Everyone else who showed up was respectful. They followed the requests of the town and Niagara Regional Police to stay off the path, which allowed councillors and others to enter town hall without any issue.

People chanted “liar,” “resign” and “shame,” but not once did I hear anything one would consider inappropriate.

The other publication also stated that no protesters entered the chamber and that’s inaccurate as well. I went in with a friend who had business there.

When we left, four other people were still inside. Two women later came out while we were cleaning up signs that were left behind.

Overall, I thought our rally was successful. It was great to see all of those people show up to voice their concerns and support our town.

Police estimated that 350 people were in attendance. That is huge.

I’m so proud of everyone for being there and keeping their cool. Just because things are reported one way, doesn’t mean that’s the reality of things, especially when it’s coming from a biased publication or a mayor and council who know they’re going against public opinion.

Furthermore, they’re going to have to find a way to change the decisions they’ve made, specifically regarding Parliament Oak, or we will keep coming back.

We will keep gaining momentum. We will keep pushing for their resignations. We WILL save NOTL. We WILL save the heritage of the first capital of Upper Canada.

It’s a shame that 350 people were blamed for the ignorance of a few. Let it be known that during our fight to save our town that anyone who is with our group will be held responsible for their actions.

Karen Taylor-Jones
NOTL