Dozens protest in Portage Place mall after respected elder is kicked out

WINNIPEG — Over one hundred people gathered for a protest at Portage Place Shopping Centre on Wednesday to show their support for Joe Meconse.

“I may be quiet but when I make noise I make sure everybody hears about it,” Meconse said.

Meconse, a veteran and respected elder in the Indigenous community claims he was kicked out of the downtown mall for loitering when he was actually eating a meal he paid for.

The elder is well known in the community and said he knows many people who frequent Portage Place. He said it’s a place he usually feels welcome at.

“When I come to Portage Place that’s how I feel. I talk there, I have friends there, I don’t cause any trouble.”

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The protest lasted for about an hour, Meconse was surrounded by friends and family members.

“I hope this protest stops this from happening again,” Barb Throassie, Joe’s niece said.

“When he called me after and told me what happened all of us were so upset. He is a highly respected elder.”

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Global News reached out to Portage Place Mall and they said they had no comment on the incident.