There was daily TV, radio and press coverage of the protest. The public response to the protest was overwhelmingly supportive. CFUN Radio ran a poll which resulted in 87 % of the caller supporting the referendum proposal, 12% against and 1% ambivalent. The Province newspaper ran many letters, as well as an editorial, in favour of the referendum and phasing out the captivity program. Rafe Mair, a popular radio talk show host, came out in favour of the referendum.

The caged protest culminated in a rally in front of City Hall.

A similar 36 hour caged protest and hunger fast was held by John Maté , Robert Light and Donna Morgan in front of the Aquarium in 1990 when the Aquarium went out to kidnap three beluga whales from their home in Churchill, Manitoba.