Despite police anticipating volatile protests in Calgary on Saturday and dozens of police monitoring a few gatherings, things remained peaceful and no altercations occurred..Police were monitoring three different gatherings in downtown Calgary and said all were “complying with the injunction” granted to the City of Calgary last Friday..Prohibited activities include the blocking of traffic on roadways and sidewalks, the unnecessary sounding of horns or other audible warning devices, commercial activity in the park or any other activity that interrupts the enjoyment of the park by others..The first gathering of counter-protesters consisting of some Beltline residents took place at Central Memorial Park, the location where thousands of freedom rally-goers have congregated on Saturdays for the last few months..A group of nearly 20 people set up in the park for a planned gathering to read in the park while a dozen or so police officers monitored things from a distance.. IMG_6382Beltline residents in Central Memorial Park for planned book reading event . IMG_6383Beltline residents in Central Memorial Park for planned book reading event .Organizers with the freedom protesters planned their gathering at Olympic Plaza where several hundred met at 1 p.m. One of the organizers told the crowd they would not be permitted to use any amplification devices or speakers and instructed the crowd to walk down Stephen Avenue to the courthouses further east..There was a handful of police in multiple corners of the plaza..Another freedom group met at Prince’s Island Park for 1 p.m. where several speakers addressed the crowd of 200+..The group remained peaceful and people slowly exited the area between 2 and 2:30 p.m.. IMG_6364Police monitoring a gathering of freedom protesters at Prince’s Island Park . IMG_6367Freedom protesters in Prince’s Island Park . IMG_6368Mountain bike patrol officers on standby at Prince’s Island Park .By 2:30 p.m., the group of freedom protesters that originated at Olympic Plaza grew to several hundred after gathering in Harley Hotchkiss Park next to the provincial courts..Calgary police were actively posting updates from the rally on Twitter throughout the afternoon..Police said people who were “excessively honking their horns in relation to the demonstrations” were ticketed..Speakers, including Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms founder and President John Carpay, addressed the crowd along with a couple of musicians.. IMG_6372Freedom protesters at Courthouse Park . IMG_6377Freedom protesters at Courthouse Park .The Western Standard live-streamed from the rally and spoke with a number of freedom protesters..There was a greater presence of police and peace officers at the park with dozens monitoring the crowd from all corners of the park. Mounted police were also within a block from the rally.. IMG_6369Mounted police officers close by the park where freedom protesters were gathered . IMG_6373Police officers monitoring the freedom rally .The rally began to wind down around 3:30 p.m. and protest organizers directed the group to head back to Olympic Plaza. While the majority of rally-goers dispersed after arriving back at Olympic Plaza, more than 200 protesters remained at city hall and continued to demonstrate.. IMG_6380Freedom protesters in front of city hall .Police tweeted they were monitoring the lingering crowd at Municipal Plaza outside city hall at 3:42 p.m..Calgary police tweeted 30 minutes later that protesters were finally dispersing from the area..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
