Korry Zepik with his vandalized signs.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Korry Zepik
October 04, 2022 - 12:01 PM
A Vernon man who has been counter-protesting anti-vaxxers at a weekly Polson Park demonstration says he was assaulted by one of the group last weekend.
Korry Zepik says someone slammed his head into the pavement and punched him at least twice on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Zepik has become a regular feature at the weekly Polson Park anti-vax and anti-mandate protest, countering the message with signs that read "Covid is not a plot" and "This rally lacks logic."
He brought an airhorn to the protest on Saturday and says that appears to have agitated the other protesters.
A man with a can of spray paint in his hand said he was going to spray paint Zepik's signs.
"He was leaning over to spray paint my sign and I pulled his arm back... and we stumbled onto the right turn lane and that's when he slammed my head into the pavement and started to punch me," Zepik said.
An unknown woman yelled and the man that assaulted Zepik ran off.
"I didn't think they would do such a thing," he said.
Police and ambulances showed up, and although the attack took place in front of 25 to 30 people Zepik said that he believes police were frustrated because they couldn't find anyone who witnessed it.
He later had x-rays and a CT scan and got the all-clear.
Zepik started his counterprotests in the spring and every week gets "light pushes" towards the street from protesters. On Saturday, he said he got two more serious shoves into the road.
Someone also told him they knew where he lived.
"The tone and everything about it was a threat," he said.
However, Zepik said he doesn't scare easily and will be back with his signs this weekend.
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said police were investigating and anyone with any information should call the detachment at 250-545-7171 and quote file number 2022-17653.
Korry Zepik says he was assaulted by an anti-vax protester.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Korry Zepik
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