Chelsea Terry organized a sit in at Nanaimo Square in protest of Penticton city council's recent approval of a bylaw outlawing sitting or laying on a downtown street this morning, Sat. May 25, 2019.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
May 25, 2019 - 11:19 AM
PENTICTON - The threat of impending thundershowers failed to dampen the spirits of around 30 Penticton residents who showed up at 10 a.m. for a ‘sit in’ at Nanaimo Square today.
Organizer Chelsea Terry was on hand for the long haul this morning, May 25, prepared with a blanket and several posters of the five councillors - Jake Kimberley, Frank Regehr, John Vassilaki, Judy Sentes and Katie Robinson - who voted in favour of a bylaw amendment making sitting or laying on a Penticton downtown main street punishable with a $100 fine.
“Any number of people more than myself is a good turnout,” Terry said, adding she only had four days to initiate the protest after council voted Tuesday afternoon.
She said she was unsure how many would eventually turn up.
"A lot of people say they are intending to come on Facebook, but then don't show up," she said.
Terry said the protest would last “probably until it rains” as clouds thickened over Penticton’s downtown core.
Several residents brought their children, who also created placards and signs voicing their discontent with the bylaw.
Protesters at the sit in at Nanaimo Square today, Saturday, May 25, 2019.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
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