By Courtney Almeida

Yellow-Vest protester in Grande Prairie

Jan 14, 2019 | 1:34 PM

A single protester was on 101 Avenue, outside our studios Monday, hoping to shed a more positive light on the Yellow-Vests movement.

“There’s nothing positive mentioned about the Yellow-Vests movement, it’s all negative,” says local man Robert Barnes.

The grassroots political movement for economic justice, which began in France last year, has branched out within the Grande Prairie community.

Barnes took to the street after death-threats to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau surfaced on several Yellow-Vest Canada pages.

He has frustrations with how the group is depicted in the media.

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“We’ve gotten a bad name the last few weeks [in the media], being called racists and bigots and everything from the far side, which we are not. We’re all friendly people.”

Barnes and the Yellow-Vests believe that they’re being singled out and that harassment online concerning the Prime Minister happens on several other pages too.

When asked about what the local group supports, Barnes said the following:

“It’s mainly about getting rid of the Carbon Tax, getting pipelines built and getting Canada away from the UN migration pact”.

Regarding immigration Barnes, an immigrant himself, specifies “[the group is] not anti-immigrant, we’re for immigration, we just want it done legally.”

Barnes meets with approximately 15 other community members to discuss political issues affecting the Province and the local area throughout the week.

“We’re for the people. We’re not against race, religion or gender, we just want change from the government,” says Barnes.

The group regularly gathers in front of City Hall on the weekends.