The Million March 4 Children, a demonstration that opposes pronouns, gender ideology, mixed bathrooms, and sexual orientation and gender identity curriculums in schools, is coming to Whitehorse this week.
According to event posters around town and online event listings, the Whitehorse march will start at Shipyards Park at noon on Sept. 20. The Million March 4 Children’s website notes that “major cities across the nation will host march events.”
According to a City of Whitehorse spokesperson, bylaw staff have been notified by march organizers that participants will travel along Second Avenue to the Yukon legislature.
“We are told they will be travelling along Second Avenue on the sidewalks, so the city isn’t expecting any impacts on motorists downtown,” the spokesperson said.
A counterprotest is planned outside the legislative building at noon on the same day. A Facebook event post for the counterprotest calls on “all Whitehorse queers, allies, and people of conscience” to “stand together for our Queer Youth and Community and show them they are loved with us.”
Yukon RCMP communications failed to confirm whether there would be increased police presence in the area of the demonstrations, instead sharing details about the RCMP’s approach to handling protests.
The RCMP spokesperson wrote via email, “The RCMP’s response to protests employs a measured approach that places an emphasis on open communication and mitigation measures using community conflict management principles. This ensures police always respect the lawful exercise of personal rights and freedoms, and that traditional policing options such as arrest are used only as a last resort.”
Contact Matthew Bossons at matthew.bossons@yukon-news.com