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Pro-Gordon Campbell Rally Ends in Disaster
Tuesday, January 29, 2002 - Victoria, British Columbia
On the heels of numerous protests against his sitting Liberal Government, supporters of British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell organized a "Pro-Gordon" rally on Tuesday at the Legislature.
A small crowd of about 30 supporters was in place by the noon start, carrying placards reading "Eliminate Government Waste" and "Gordon Campbell's Cuts are Just Right."
The crowd was also overheard chanting "We'll Cut the Government to the Knee, But At Least We're Not the NDP."
Unfortunately for rally participants, a group of about 45 unionized provincial health workers arrived for their own rally about 15 minutes into the pro-Campbell demonstration.
Chaos ensued. Fortunately, this came to an abrupt end when the protesters noticed Gordon Campbell and a handful of cabinet ministers arrive at the Legislature. One yelled, "Get 'em," and the mob quickly moved toward the Legislature.
Fortunately for Gordon Campbell, he and his colleagues were seconds ahead of the mob, and the security guards held the crowd back. In the interim, the pro-Campbell demonstrators left quickly.
"What a bunch of nut-bags," one anonymous Campbell supporter told BCB News, upon returning to his Howe Street brokerage office, "I'll definitely be going to the U.S. for my health care now."
The Premier's Office declined to comment about the incident.
Organizers of the pro-Campbell rally have postponed any further rallies for the foreseeable future.
