Woodstock police handed out tickets to five people at a downtown anti-lockdown protest that was organized by a 13-year-old Chatsworth girl.
The demonstration by Project Phoenix, a non-profit organization that helps the homeless, was held late Thursday afternoon at the city's Museum Square. The aim was to raise awareness about the negative effects school closures are having on students and that the lockdown is having on the homeless. The group had indicated it intended to distribute food and drinks to those living on the streets during the demonstration.
Phoenix Scott, 13, founded the non-profit and organized the rally. Prior to the event, police strongly discouraged organizers from going ahead with it, advising them charges under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and the Reopening Ontario Act could be laid against them.
According to police, a number of the people who were in attendance at the rally were not Woodstock residents. In fact, many were individuals who had participated in similar protests throughout the province, police said.
Five people have been charged so far and police have indicated additional charges may be pending.
Police have said none of those charged were homeless.
Project Phoenix has planned a similar rally for January 26 in London.