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So, it should probably come as little surprise that the property manager erected a sign informing passersby that Glenmore Landing is, in fact, private property.

“Political or public protesting or demonstrating, soliciting, use of loudspeakers or other similar devices, pamphleteering, loitering, skateboarding, is strictly prohibited.”

There are conflicting reports as to when the warning went up; the regional president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers told the Calgary Herald it was assembled the day before his group was set last fall to protest working conditions in federal prisons.

The property manager told the paper that it had been put up years ago.

Either way, it’s done little good. Now the sign against protesting has collected more protesters.

Donald Smith, a 33-year-old dishwasher spent two hours in front of the sign, protesting for his right to protest.

“I did it because I had enough of it. I’m not having a corporate company telling me I can’t have rights to free speech,” he said. “If it’s private property, then put a chain link fence around it. Put a fortress around it then. I know it’s privately owned, but so what? I have a right to free speech.”

No one asked him to leave the grounds and Mr. Smith said he plans to expand his protest in coming weeks.

Laws against trespassing on private property were, he said, overridden by article 18 of the UN’s declaration of human rights.

“Corporate companies and offshore banks own Stephen Harper and all that stuff. That’s why we’re bankrupt. They’re starting a new world order and people are starting to wake up,” he said. “I just want a peaceful assembly and all of that stuff because I’m tired of all our rights being taken away by a corrupted government.”