Police Aware Of Proposed Anti-Mask March

December 8, 2020

[Updated with video] Messages circulating indicate that an anti-mask march is apparently being planned for Friday, and the Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley said he is aware of the messages and that “from the point of view of the BPS, our role is that we support lawful protest” and he noted that we have “regulations around physical distancing and around people wearing masks in public.

Speaking in a video he posted on social media, Commissioner Corbishley said, “I’m aware of a message that’s been going around social media – Facebook, WhatsApp – around an anti-mask march that’s taking place later this week. I’ll reserve my personal opinion on it, but from the point of view of the BPS, our role is that we support lawful protest – but that’s the key.

Video extract from the Commissioner’s social media video where he discusses the proposed march:

“We’re doing some work today. We’re engaging with the apparent organizers to discuss with them what they propose, but also to establish the lawfulness of such a march, because of course we’ve got regulations around physical distancing and around people wearing masks in public.

“If the intention of a demonstration is for people not to wear masks, it’s unlawful, so we’ve got to work through that.

“It’s not to negate people’s opportunity; people have different views on that, and that’s not a matter for the BPS to get involved with. Our matter is around people’s safety; certainly not just the people who may want to protest, but also in regards to the wider community. So we are aware, we are dealing with it, it is a process that we go through, and I’m sure we’ll be able to resolve it as we go forward.”

One message circulating claims the march will take place starting from City Hall, and a City Hall spokesperson told Bernews, “The City has policies and procedures in place for the rental of any of its properties and facilities, including City Hall. Permission is not granted until an official application has been submitted, approved and any applicable deposit fee paid for in advance. At this time the City has not received any application to hold an event at City Hall for the proposed march.”

This comes as the island is experiencing a spike in new cases, with over 300 confirmed to date and 75 currently active, and new regulations are in force, including a maximum of 20 people being allowed to gather.

In addition, the regulations have recently been amended to introduce fines – $500 for the first offence and $1,000 for the second offence upon conviction — for “persons not wearing a mask in accordance with the law.”

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Comments (28)

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  1. Tourist says:

    Now that Bermuda is turning into the United States, we decided to cut four months off our trip and to go home. So much for escaping the Covid crazy. A word of caution to the anti-maskers from a devastated American: dead bodies in freezer trucks are real and it won’t be long before one of them is your parent or grandparent. And civil unrest plus a Covid outbreak is not the formula for a vibrant tourism economy.

    • Lee Klug says:

      AMEN! Unfortunately, you can try to educate ignorance, but there’s nothing that you can do about stupid!!! Make Bermuda Great Again – Maybe Trump will try to buy Bermuda and move here!

    • Wayne says:

      That doesn’t seem like a credible comment. Plus, if there is a march it will consist of around 7 guys on day release from the wellness center. 99.99% of Bermuda are adhering to Government guidelines.

    • Tourist #2 says:

      You’re cutting time here to go back home! Go right along I’m here until April 2021.

      The people and this beautiful island are still one of the very best places to visit in this new COVID world.

      Thank you Bermuda,
      Jen

      • Tourist says:

        I totally agree with you. We loved our time here, but if there’s Covid running wild then we may as well be in our own home rather than here because, either way, we won’t be going out due to our personal low risk tolerance. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your stay!

        • Joe Bloggs says:

          “but if there’s Covid running wild then we may as well be in our own home”

          I do not think that is a fair characterisation of what is happening in Bermuda right now, especially when compared to what is happening in the UK, US and Canada, but you are entitled to your opinion.

          I do hope that when you do leave Bermuda you leave with some fond memories.

    • No Comparison says:

      Seriously. Turning into the US? I live in Florida and our daily numbers have been peaking for weeks. Thousands of new cases daily and too many deaths. These idiots are a shameful handfool who want attention.
      C’mon this late into mask wearing and now they plan a protest? Bunch of silly fools who are better off rounded up along their planned route and taken to the toy store. Clearly they have gotten bored with their old ones and want something new to play with. Not other people’s lives though that is not covered under our laws

  2. Unbelievable says:

    Why have a protest against masks and vaccines? This is selfish and dangerous.

  3. puzzled says:

    Ignore.
    Ignorance.

    There.

  4. Joe Bloggs says:

    “Messages circulating indicate that an anti-mask march is apparently being planned for Friday …”

    Yes. A march by conspiracy theorists who believe that the world’s media and the world’s leading scientists and others, including those governments that are taking COVID-19 seriously, are all engaged in an elaborate world-wide conspiracy for some ulterior purpose and that COVID-19 does not really exist.

    I suppose the 1.5 million plus people who are (supposedly) dead are actually in a secret prison on Mars or somewhere.

    • Unbelievable says:

      I have no time for these people and really don’t mind telling them to their faces that they are menaces to a society that follows science and common sense. If I hear anything about their “personal freedoms” I actually will send them to Mars.

      • Joe Bloggs says:

        Telling such people anything “to their faces” would likely put you at additional risk. It’s not worth it mate.

  5. Lighthouse says:

    It’s a sad day for Bermuda. I guess this speaks to the impact that Covid is not just having on physical health, but also on ones mental health. This thing is messing with the mind and turning individuals into illogical, insensitive, uncaring, selfish people. SO SAD TO SEE.

  6. sandgrownan says:

    If only they would infect just themselves, but they don’t, they infect everyone around them, colleagues, school friends, people in restaurants and bars, sports club friends…

    Lock them all in The Keep in Dockyard, throw bread over the fence until they either learn or die. Whatever comes first.

    Selfish and idiotic.

  7. Dublin says:

    Somebody wanted/needed 15mins of fame. This gotta be a hoax!!! Mask up or Lock down. Period.

  8. Bermudian says:

    What the heck?! Who were the selfish ppl to come up with this? Masks save lives. Fellow Bermudians DO NOT let ppl persuade you in thinking its against your freedom or rights. If that was the case then all of our other safety laws and regulations would be a breach against our freedom and rights. Wear your mask. You’re protecting yourself and others. Let this group have their 5 mins and move on.

    • Portia says:

      This goes beyond just wearing your mask (the efficacy of which is debatable even in the medical community). Can’t you see that? If you can be compelled to wear a mask then you can be compelled to do other things as well, like take the vaccine, which we don’t even know for sure is safe and effective. I can tell you with certainty, that there are businesses and companies in Bermuda that are considering making the vaccine mandatory in order to work or shop there. There are people in Government who are mulling over whether Bermuda should have a vaccine mandate. How do I know this? Because it is already happening overseas in the US, UK and Canada. Next year you will likely not be able to travel overseas for medical reasons or vacation if you do not have the vaccine. Do you honestly think Bermuda won’t follow suit when we have copied everything else done in other countries? The time to speak up against this is NOW not when Government agencies or organizations announce it. There is absolutely nothing selfishness in looking out for your well being, in wanting to preserve your freedom and the right to work, travel, etc. The real selfishness is in people wanting to force things upon you against your will and against your own benefit.

      • Joe Bloggs says:

        Portia,

        I do not know if you have been deceived by someone determined to sew distrust in Bermuda of if you are the culprit, but what you are saying is utter rubbish.

        Let’s take it bit by bit.

        “This goes beyond just wearing your mask (the efficacy of which is debatable even in the medical community).”

        I don’t know what “medical community” you mean, but the leading epidemiologists (Dr. Fauci, Professor Chris Whitty and others) are all of one voice, wearing a mask arrests the spread of COVID-19.

        “If you can be compelled to wear a mask then you can be compelled to do other things as well, like take the vaccine”

        No, that is not true. Bermuda’s Constitution will not allow that.

        “I can tell you with certainty, that there are businesses and companies in Bermuda that are considering making the vaccine mandatory in order to work or shop there.”

        They may be “considering it”, but no employer can implement such a condition of employment. Again, the law will not allow it.

        “There are people in Government who are mulling over whether Bermuda should have a vaccine mandate.”

        See above, Bermuda’s Constitution will not allow that.

        “There is absolutely nothing selfishness in looking out for your well being, in wanting to preserve your freedom and the right to work, travel, etc.”

        That is absolutely true. What you appear to have over-looked is the right of other countries to keep conspiracy theorists who refuse to accept generally accepted medical advice and who refuse to wear masks out of their other country. That has nothing to do with the Bermuda Government forcing anything on anyone.

      • Marcusbmco says:

        Bda Gov COULD have chosen a different path.. but clearly those Swedes are crazy.
        Becareful what you wish for..
        With every Gov mandated restriction there will be more and more suicide. And that is a FACT. With every level of control brings more hopelessness.
        No, sorry, 3 bil in debt Gov gonna TAKE CARE OF YOU.

  9. Brookline Bob says:

    Perhaps the anti-makers are just dying for attention. If the media ignores them them will go away. The problem with the USA (from which I have taken refuge, and am dearly grateful to Bermuda as my home away from home)…like I was saying, the problem with the USA is the media gives a moment of fame to every ridiculous act of defiance. While we all should respect the right to assembly, do it safely, socially distance and WEAR masks! But dear friends in the media: please consider giving the anti-maskers just a footnote.

  10. Unmask says:

    This march makes no sense, do you think for one minute that Govt will approve of this, you are only wasting your time, the vaccine is not mandatory, if u don’t want to get it well don’t, it’s that simple

  11. Maddog says:

    Take their non mask wearing selves to Paget island drop a COVID case in their midst and let’s see if they are right…..have at it you selfish idiots …let us know how it goes …

  12. common sense says:

    The object of wearing masks is mainly to reduce the risk of the wearer spreading the virus to other people. If we are to halt/slow down the spread it would be good if people in crowded situations behaved as if they were infected, so as to reduce the spread to others.. eg masks, social distancing , hand washing, sanitizer etc
    My opinion is that when this is over almost everyone will have had either the virus or the vaccine. For me the vaccine represent the lesser of the evils. Before there was a measles vaccine everyone got measles.

    • Toodle-oo says:

      “Before there was a measles vaccine everyone got measles.”

      Same for polio , cowpox and tetanus . Can you imagine if we still had them doing the rounds ?

  13. common sense says:

    Cowpox is not as infectious as Covid. It was mainly seen in maids whose job was to milk the cows. Cowpox (vaccinia) imparted immunity to Smallpox.(hence ‘vaccination’) Tetanus is a disease resulting from injuries contaminated by Tetanus spores. It is not spread from person to person. The vast majority of people did not get these two diseases.