The city of Green Bay, Wisconsin was the latest to call on MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group’s mobile anti-vehicle barriers to protect people during recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

More than a thousand protestors had planned to walk from a local park to Green Bay police headquarters, and Police Chief Andrew Smith explained to council members how the barriers, newly acquired by the city, would be used.

“The idea is that the protestors will be safe from vehicles intruding into the area. These barriers will stop a car or a truck getting anywhere near the demonstration,” Chief Smith said.

“I was pleased to see the mobile barriers were able to protect both the people and community in what happily turned out to be a peaceful demonstration,” said MERIDIAN CEO Peter Whitford. “With the COVID- 19 pandemic and now the demonstrations around the U.S., we have seen our Archer barriers take on very different and very effective roles.”

In Pasadena, California the barriers were placed around the tents at one of the county’s largest drive-thru testing centers. The barriers provided health workers with a secure zone to carry out tests while people stayed in their cars. In Los Angeles at The Grove, Archer barriers were brought in to protect the iconic lifestyle and retail center when looters were destroying nearby shops. In Miami Beach, Florida the Archer barriers allowed the city to create a pedestrian plaza on the usually heavily trafficked Ocean Boulevard. There is now a safe environment with restaurant owners moving onto the street to create larger outdoor dining areas.

Once again MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group has stepped up to provide protection for demonstrators during a peaceful rally.

Nearly a thousand people gathered in downtown Martinez, CA for a Black Lives Matter demonstration and march beginning at the site where a couple painted over a city-sanctioned Black Lives Matter mural. The defacement occurred on July 4th and infuriated residents.

On short notice MERIDIAN, through its partnership with TriCal Rentals of San Francisco, arrived with 36 Archer 1200 mobile barriers and locked down the entire route of the march. The plan created a solid “no go zone” for vehicles attempting to enter the area and therefore ensured the safety of the large crowd.

Mike Estanol from the Martinez Police Department said, “By having the MERIDIAN barriers at every key entry point around the city we were able to quickly and effectively close down vehicle traffic. It created a large safe zone for our residents taking part in the demonstration. I liked the barriers because people could move freely past them while still stopping cars and trucks.”

The Archer barriers guarded against any driver trying to get into the center of the city for the wrong reasons. During the gathering protestors peacefully took a knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds, marking the time the Minneapolis Police Officer was kneeling on George Floyd’s neck before he died.

“We were called at the last moment when authorities in Martinez realized the march was attracting many more people than they originally planned for,” said Peter Whitford, CEO of MERIDIAN. “Along with our partner TriCal, we rushed the mobile Archer barriers to Martinez and within the hour on Sunday morning had the streets locked down.”

During the riots in Los Angeles recently MERIDIAN’s barriers played a similar role at The Grove shopping and lifestyle center. More recently Archer 1200 Barriers are being used to protect outdoor diners by creating “safe streets” around the U.S.

Police in Arvada, Colorado are taking on a couple of dozen new “silent helpers” to ensure the safety of its citizens.

MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group supplied the city, the beautiful first-ring suburb of Denver, with 32 Archer 1200 mobile barriers as part of Arvada’s ongoing program to make the streets safer for pedestrians.

Arvada Police Department’s Public Information Officer, Detective Dave Snelling said, “When it comes to the security of our citizens, we strive to be better, we strive to be innovative. With the assistance of MERIDIAN’s Archer barriers, the Arvada Police Department is able to think about this community’s safety, so the people don’t have to, because that is our job.”

Arvada purchased 32 Archer 1200 mobile barriers which are designed to solve a variety of security issues. The barriers maintain a safe but discreet environment for crowds. Because the Archer is “drop and stop” ready and requires no heavy equipment, the barriers are easily deployed by one person. They are designed to replace the unsightly old-style wooden and orange water-filled barriers so often used for crowd control.

“When our community asked, we responded,” said Detective Snelling. “With the MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group’s mobile barriers, we chose one of the best systems possible.”

MERIDIAN CEO Peter Whitford explained because of the COVID-19 pandemic the barriers, originally designed as an anti-terrorist ram-raid deterrent and capable of stopping a car or a truck, recently took on a new role.

“In the past weeks our Archer barriers are now protecting newly created pedestrian plazas around the U.S. where restaurants are moving tables and chairs onto the streets to create safe social distance dining areas,” he said.

Mr. Whitford added, “Arvada prides itself as an innovative community, and they looked closely at alternatives. We are proud to say they chose MERIDIAN as their partner to make the city streets so much safer.”

MERIDIAN barriers were recently deployed during the riots in Los Angeles to protect major shopping precincts. They are also on the streets of Miami Beach’s famous restaurant row on Ocean Drive providing a safer dining experience.

When California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that for the second time indoor dining at restaurants would be banned because of the spread of COVID-19, it was especially painful for restaurant owners already struggling with dramatic losses. But now thanks to the City of Pasadena working with MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group restaurants along busy Colorado Boulevard have been thrown a lifeline. The restaurants are protected by a mix of barriers including MERIDIAN’s Archer 1200 mobile barriers. The city plan resulted in large sections of the boulevard in front of restaurants being cordoned off to create safe on-street dining zones.

“We are pleasantly surprised how business for both lunch and dinner picked up once the barriers went in,” said Armen Shirvanian, owner of Pasadena’s popular Mi Piace restaurant.

Diners in his restaurant were enjoying the new experience. “We feel very safe here. Even though the cars are that close the barriers sure make us pretty secure,” said Barbara Tarlau a first-time diner from Porter Ranch, CA.

Mr. Shirvanian is hoping the city will go one step further: “Now we have seen this be successful I would like to see the City of Pasadena make it permanent or semi-permanent,” he said. “Initially I was skeptical because of the loss of street parking but now it has worked really well.”

Peter Whitford, MERIDIAN’s CEO said: “For those restaurant owners who are expanding their footprint out into the street there is no doubt the safety of diners and staff is their most important issue. So, we were happy to be asked by Pasadena city officials to help find a solution with our Archer barriers.”

The mobile Archer 1200 Barriers are placed at the front of each enclosed dining area. Their 700 lbs of American made steel can stop an out of control car or truck. They provide the perfect solution for cities wanting to help restaurants get back to business while at the same time providing safety for the public.

Archer barriers are also protecting diners in Ventura, CA. where the city closed off ten city blocks to create an outdoor mall and in Miami Beach, FL. where many restaurants have also expanded out onto the street.

As last Saturday neared, it became clear to police in La Mesa, CA that the planned Black Lives Matter demonstration was going to attract large numbers of demonstrators. That is when law enforcement called MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group. MERIDIAN quickly arrived with its mobile anti-vehicle barriers. Within hours MERIDIAN, using its SAFETY Act Certified Archer 1200 Barriers, sealed off an entire “safe zone” in La Mesa where both protestors and police could operate without fear of being struck by a rogue vehicle.

Back in May, rioters on foot and in cars caused widespread damage to many local shops and businesses. This time the local police were taking no chances.

“The City of La Mesa has experienced several protests recently and one resulted in a riot with attempts to burn down our police facility,” explained Capt. Matt Nicholass from La Mesa Police Department. “During the planning of an upcoming protest on August 1, our goal was to provide the safest area possible for our protestors, law enforcement personnel, and citizens.”

The barriers and an Archer beam gate were placed on streets at the most critical access points to the designated protest zone. Law enforcement strategy was designed specifically to prevent vehicle traffic from entering high pedestrian areas.

“MERIDIAN Barriers were our solution,” said Capt. Nicholass. “They were quickly installed, very maneuverable, and provided the level of safety we were seeking. They provided reassurance that the protestors and officers were protected.”

Peter Whitford, CEO of MERIDIAN said, “We are a company which specializes in responding rapidly to requests of this type. We had the Archer barriers deployed and then quickly removed allowing the city to get back to normal. Once again we are proud to be the ‘go-to business’ when authorities need a quick solution to a particular situation.”

Across the U.S., the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many restaurants to expand onto the streets and into parking lots. But with this solution comes a danger.

Since outside dining expanded in March, several tragic incidents have highlighted the serious consequences of cars mixing tragically with street- occupying patrons. A high-speed police chase in Kentucky last weekend, which ended with the vehicle plowing into a group of four people and killing two, is one of about 20 instances of cars or trucks ramming into on-street eating zones. To mitigate these risks, MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group has provided a quick solution for dozens of restaurants all over the U.S. including Miami Beach FL, Wilmington NC, Pasadena CA, Ventura CA, and El Segundo CA. MERIDIAN’s mobile Archer 1200 Barriers have been deployed at each of these locations with safety plans developed alongside city, law enforcement, and fire department officials.

THE ISSUE:
– Seating diners next to moving vehicles spells trouble.
– Newly created and unfamiliar street eating zones can confuse drivers.
– Using the wrong type of barriers at outdoor dining eateries.
– Restaurateurs thinking a light wood or metal barrier solves the problem.
– The strong chance of restaurants being sued over the most minor incident.
– Both errant and hostile vehicles can enter the designated areas from either end causing major carnage.

THE SOLUTION:
– A proper risk assessment by a barrier specialist.
– Choosing the right type of barrier for the front and the sides of the dining area. Important: they fill different roles.
– For front of dining zone use, facing oncoming cars, use an Archer 1200 Barrier capable of stopping a car or truck at speed which is “SAFETY Act Certified” by Homeland Security.
– Affordable sales and rentals terms available.

“Our Archer 1200 is the perfect choice to take on this new role of protecting diners,” said Peter Whitford, CEO of MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group. “Our short-term and long-term affordable rental plans (as well as sales) have worked really well for restaurant owners and cities.”

Outdoor dining in Wilmington NC
Archer 1200 Barriers create safe dining area in Wilmington, NC. Insurance and risk-control consultant of the Houchens Insurance Group told USA Today: “Restaurants are trying to survive. I get it. But you can’t take safety out of the equation.”

Mr. Whitford said that different types of barriers play different roles. “Once we explained to restaurant owners how the Archer 1200 mobile barrier is the only one capable of providing the maximum protection from oncoming cars for their customers, they immediately made the decision to go with the Archer,” he said.

The Archer 1200 was originally designed for military purposes. It is 700lbs of American made steel and proven as the best in the world in its class at keeping people safe from rogue vehicles. MERIDIAN Archer 1200 Barriers are “SAFETY Act Certified” by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) providing the ultimate standard in keeping people, communities and places safer.

There is a new team in town. Colorado Barricade Co. and MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group are now working together to create safe streets throughout the state.

Colorado Barricade now has the latest in mobile anti-vehicle technology and is ready to roll it out to clients. MERIDIAN’s Archer 1200 is the barrier of choice for police, fire and construction companies looking for a quick solution to closing down streets and construction sites.

“We went looking for a company that was highly respected with great relationships and great contacts and that certainly applied to Colorado Barricade,” said Peter Whitford, MERIDIAN’s CEO. “For a start, like us, they specialize in deploying their equipment on the streets and we saw they have the same principles as MERIDIAN. We both set out to keep people safe in highly trafficked and sometimes dangerous areas.”

The Archer 1200 is 700lbs of American-made steel and in many cases these days replaces the concrete and water barriers so often used. It has the strength to stop a car or a truck coming at speed head-on.

“MERIDIAN has been a great new addition to our company. It has a couple of really unique products including its Archer barriers and beam gates,” said Ted Ott, President and CEO of Colorado Barricade.

“They are MERIDIAN’s own design and once we used them, we realized we could save a lot of time while still making the area we’re responsible for really safe and secure. And in the end, that’s the most important thing for me,” he said.

While ideal for use in construction zones and street closures the Archer 1200s have found a new role and were recently used to protect restaurant patrons in newly created outdoor dining areas as well as COVID-19 testing stations.

There is a whole new dining experience to be had at Toronto’s exclusive Harbour60 restaurant where management has gone out of its way to make it safe for everyone.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, dining at Harbour60 has moved to a magnificent new outdoor area which has been secured by barriers provided by Canada’s Safeguard Perimeter Solutions.

The mobile Archer 1200 Barriers, manufactured by the MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group, are placed on all sides of the large marquee.

Shaine Moore of Safeguard Perimeter Solutions said: “Harbour60 management was excited about the fact that by surrounding the outdoor restaurant area with MERIDIAN barriers they could keep their diners there safe.”

The restaurant, a popular meeting place for Toronto Raptors and Maple Leaf players, hosts hundreds of people day and night. The Archer 1200’s take the place of the old- style concrete or unsightly plastic water-filled barriers – which are not safety-rated for this use.

“They had a problem with the rideshare drivers arriving, often a bit too quickly, right next to where people were eating,” said Mr. Moore. “So, having the Archer anti-vehicle barriers there, ensures everyone inside the dining area can enjoy themselves without any safety worries.”

MERIDIAN has created similar “safe dining zones” around the U.S. including Miami Beach, FL. and Ventura, CA.

Peter Whitford, CEO of MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group said: “The problem of cars moving at high speed so close to these newly established outdoor dining areas is something every restaurant owner should be aware of. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Since restaurants were forced by the new pandemic rules to move to outside dining there have been several serious accidents in the U.S. involving cars crashing into eating areas.

“People love it.”

The words of a restaurant owner describing tourists and locals who are back enjoying nights out in Niagara Falls restaurants thanks to MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group. MERIDIAN, working with Canada’s Safeguard Perimeter Solutions, has secured the popular Centre Street restaurant and shopping zone using its one of a kind mobile Archer 1200 Barriers. From afternoon to early morning the area is now a safe and enjoyable pedestrian plaza. The area attracts 9.5 million visitors a year.

Phil Pasco, owner of Yank’s Old Niagara Bar & Grill, told the Niagara Fall Review that he is thrilled to be open again. “We had a ton of locals for pizza and wings. It was fantastic and such a treat to be out there again after 120-something days closed. Finally, there’s some life back on the street,” he said.

“The restaurant owners are 100% positive now that they see the Archer barriers are making their street so secure,” said Shaine Moore of Safeguard Perimeter Solutions.

During discussions with the city to close the street and let restaurants move tables outside, a range of options was discussed. In the end, the city chose Archer barriers. Each morning the barriers are quickly wheeled away to allow for normal daytime traffic and deliveries.

“The business owners tell me the barriers are so much better than what was going to be the alternative and that was either a huge dump truck or bus parked sideways to block the street,” said Mr. Moore.

The restaurateurs praised the city council for helping get the street closed for safer dining.

“The customers love it. Now we can pay some bills and keep our employees working,” said Navin Shahani of Sparks Steakhouse and Maharaja Grand. “The city stepped up. We would have still been closed if not for the city’s foresight,” he told the Review.

Peter Whitford, CEO of MERIDIAN Rapid Defense said, “Once again MERIDIAN has been able to help businesspeople get back to business. We had the same reaction in the many cities where the Archer’s are protecting restaurant patrons including Miami Beach and Pasadena in California.”

An investigation by TV’s top-rated “Inside Edition” revealed many restaurants are putting their patrons at risk in newly created outdoor dining areas.

MERIDIAN Rapid Defense Group is advising restaurant owners across the U.S. on how to make a “secure place” for diners. “Inside Edition” featured MERIDIAN’s mobile Archer 1200 Barrier and described how it has helped restaurants “make safety a priority.”

In their effort to survive new restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants are moving tables and chairs onto the streets. But in many cases, they are only surrounded by wooden barriers or planters, and already, as Inside Edition showed in a dramatic video, there have been several serious accidents where cars plowed into diners.

Peter Whitford, CEO of MERIDIAN said: “We were happy to work with “Inside Edition” and explain how our mobile Archer barriers are the perfect solution to secure on-street dining areas. I understand that restaurateurs are desperate to get back to business but having diners sitting so close to passing traffic is only inviting trouble unless they are properly protected. We’ve already seen evidence of that.”

The Archer barrier’s 700lbs of American made steel can stop an out-of-control car or truck and provide the ideal solution for city’s wanting to help restaurants get back to business while at the same time providing a cocoon of safety.

“Having those (barriers) there is a big plus,” Kris Jardino told “Inside Edition.” Ms. Jardino and two friends were eating at Pasadena’s popular Mi Piace, one of the many restaurants in the California city secured by Archer barriers.

“Up until now, I didn’t think about the safety aspect, but seeing them there makes us feel a whole lot better,” she said.

Archer barriers are also protecting diners in Ventura, CA where the city closed off ten city blocks to create an outdoor mall and in Miami Beach, FL where many restaurants have also expanded out onto the street.