The village of Richmound held a protest on Saturday, in hopes of spurring a cult led by a girl who has declared herself the “Queen of Canada” to go away the southwestern Saskatchewan group.
A bunch calling itself the “Kingdom of Canada” has arrange camp within the small village — about 65 kilometres northwest of town of Maple Creek, close to the Saskatchewan-Alberta border — and referred to as for public execution of elected officers and different members in and round Richmound.
The group held a meet-and-greet for potential new followers and their supporters on Saturday.
Chief Romana Didulo is called a far-right QAnon conspiracy theorist. She has declared herself the “Queen of Canada,” amongst different titles, together with calling herself the nationwide Indigenous chief.
Didulo and a few of her followers have been travelling across the nation for a while.
They had been compelled out of Kamsack, Sask., following a peaceable protest by residents there on Sept. 13. The group then made its method to Richmound on Sept. 15, and has been staying on the former Richmound Faculty, having been invited by property proprietor Rick Manz.
Manz is going through an assault cost after RCMP acquired a report of an assault following an altercation in Richmound final Friday.
On Wednesday, Richmound Mayor Brad Miller shared a Fb put up inviting individuals to hitch the group’s “peaceable protest” on Saturday and Sunday. He urged others to share the put up round.
“Issues are nonetheless escalating and we’re determined for assist with one other protest rally to maintain conspiracy theorist, cult chief and pretender queen, Romana Didulo, from settling into everlasting residency in our city. WE NEED HELP AND CANNOT DO THIS ALONE!” the put up learn.
Miller referred to as for individuals from neighbouring communities to hitch within the demonstration, saying it is going to be respectful and authorized.
These calls had been answered by leaders of neighbouring communities on Saturday.
Aaron Wenzel, the mayor of Chief, Sask., and Sean Checkley, mayor of Fox Valley, got here to Richmound in present of solidarity, together with Doug Steele, the member of the Legislative Meeting for Cypress Hills.
The MLA and the three mayors held a joint information convention on Saturday, forward of the deliberate protest.
“The world isn’t simply, you recognize, group by group — we’re a area and work very carefully and collaboratively with with every group,” stated Fox Valley’s Checkley.
Many Richmound youth go to highschool in Fox Valley, he stated, so the communities have shut ties.
Not too long ago, the playground in Richmound was shut down resulting from security considerations due to the group’s presence.
“We’re gathered right here, I assume for one factor and one factor solely,” stated Miller.
“As a group of Richmound, I’d wish to say we’re standing collectively as one and our focus is to maneuver her [Didulo] out of Richmound and hopefully again into america.”
The Richmound mayor stated he tried to fulfill with Didulo to get a greater understanding of why she was within the village, however she refused.
After a earlier protest towards the group on Sept. 24, the cult threatened village administration with “stop and desist” letters, Miller beforehand stated, accusing them of corruption, bullying and stalking, and calling these behaviours “harmful,” “unlawful” and “immoral.”
The cult threatened “publicly broadcast execution” if the village didn’t observe Didulo’s decrees.
Miller stated Saturday that extra stop and desist letters have been emailed to group members, together with him. He additionally stated Didulo’s followers have been strolling round taking movies and footage of residents.
A Richmound resident, whom CBC has agreed to not title, stated on Thursday that she is scared of getting Didulo and her followers within the village.
“I’d actually wish to see these individuals depart,” stated the resident.
“On the identical time, I don’t wish to see one other group need to cope with this. I actually don’t. It’s not enjoyable. It’s not honest. Like, who begins placing stop and desist orders and execution lists out? How is {that a} factor that may occur?”
Miller stated Saturday he desires extra authorities intervention to push Didulo and her followers out.
“I feel for the provincial authorities and likewise the federal authorities, I feel they need to be getting on this so we don’t have this drawback anymore and we are able to work collectively.”
RCMP presence
RCMP despatched a cell detachment to Richmound on Oct. 6 in response to the group’s presence.
Police say the group doesn’t pose an “imminent risk,” regardless of issuing the threats of public execution.
In an emailed assertion to CBC on Friday, Saskatchewan RCMP stated that the security and safety of the group of Richmound is a prime precedence.
“We’re conscious of the potential occasions scheduled for this weekend. Saskatchewan RCMP will preserve a 24/7 police presence for the foreseeable future, which is able to embody common patrols in the neighborhood. This can embody Saturday and Sunday,” RCMP stated.
On Saturday morning, RCMP arrange checkpoints on both sides of the village.
In his Fb put up, Miller inspired protesters to drive across the village on Saturday and Sunday with respectful indicators. He inspired “noisemakers.”
“We perceive individuals are very emotional and at wit’s finish however we should not interact,” Miller stated within the put up. “We solely wish to irritate them and allow them to know now we have not given up!!”
The village protest was scheduled to proceed till 7 p.m. CST on Saturday, and resume from midday to five p.m. CST on Sunday.