Laura Osman, Sarah Ritchie and Erika Ibrahim, The Canadian Press Posted on Friday, April 29, 2022, 5:39 AM EDT Last Updated on Friday, April 29, 2022, 9:30 PM EDT
Ottawa – Ottawa police made several arrests Friday after protesting protesters against COVID-19 mandates, wearing helmets and shields as trucks with large platforms tried to make their way to Parliament Hill.
The protesters arrived on Friday afternoon as part of a rally “Rolling Thunder” organized by Freedom Fighters Canada, a group dedicated to speaking out against the mandates of COVID-19.
Many protesters were also part of a three-week Freedom Convoy demonstration that closed downtown Ottawa earlier this year with large facilities, prompting the federal government to invoke the Emergency Situations Act for the first time. The protest ended after hundreds of police moved to disperse the crowds, making dozens of arrests.
Before protesters arrived on Friday, Ottawa police promised that protesters would not be allowed to hold on to a prolonged occupation this time.
They called in more than 800 reinforcements from the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and regional police services to guard every major intersection in the center and prevent protesters from driving vehicles into the core.
It started calmly enough, with familiar cries of “Freedom!” as protesters mingled and danced on Wellington Street, the main avenue in front of Parliament Hill. Protesters also marched through the ByWard Market with police escorts.
But early Friday night, police warned of a large convoy trying to make its way into town. Hundreds of protesters soon gathered around large trucks and campers right in front of the parliamentary section.
As night fell, protesters shouted “Hold the line” as they tried to push police out of their vehicles. Police gradually tried to push the crowds away from the trucks and back to the parliamentary hill, as protesters called them “traitors.”
Ottawa City Councilor Jeff Leper said he saw police smash a truck window to take control of the vehicle. Police officers were spotted arresting on the street.
Some of the vehicles left on their own, as a tactical police armored car took a tow truck to the scene.
The Rolling Thunder was initially unaware of the cause they were coming together for, except that they said they would “celebrate our freedom peacefully” and opposed the removal of veterans from the National War Memorial during the Freedom Convoy. ”
However, many in the crowd belonged to Convoy of Freedom protesters months earlier.
Angela Manella of North Bay, Ont., Was in the national capital to protest against vaccine mandates in February. She said she had returned because the mandates were still in force.
“My experience with the convoy protest was that there was so much love and connection and just such good energy,” Manela said next to the Centennial Flame on Friday.
“I want to continue this energy and this impulse so that we can continue to stand up for all of us.
She said there was a sense of community among the protesters in the convoy in February, and that may be part of what brings them together again.
Others who gathered near the war memorial said they were only in Ottawa this weekend to honor veterans who were removed from the scene by police along with other protesters in February.
“It’s mostly like a parade to honor them for what they did, they stand up for the right causes,” said a protester in a black leather vest, who would only identify as Mario.
Friday night’s rally is expected to be followed by a convoy of hundreds of motorcycles through the city center on Saturday, with a stop at the War Memorial and another rally on Parliament’s hill.
Vehicles will not be allowed in an area that includes the war memorial and parliament, police said, nor will they be allowed to stop along the route, but participants can walk around the area.
It is also a chance for Ottawa police to regain the trust and respect of the community after being severely criticized during the February protest for allowing it to continue for so long before taking action.
For more than three weeks, protesters set up camps on the city’s streets, which were filled with large facilities decorated with messages speaking out against vaccine mandates, COVID-19 restrictions and the prime minister.
“I think we will have to wait and see. Ottawa police lost much confidence last time. So this weekend will be a real test for them, “said Brian Latour, one of the organizers of the counter-protest in Ottawa.
Some residents nearby remember the last protest as a nightmare – one they do not want to experience again.
“Many of them are worried, some are scared and some are crazy,” said Mary Huang, president of the downtown community association, which is the neighborhood closest to Parliament Hill.
She said neighbors were still traumatized after the protest. The loud air horns that were heard at all times of the night meant many could not sleep, and some people were frightened when they left home, she said.
They are worried that this weekend will be repeated before residents even have a chance to recover, she said.
Ottawa police have vowed not to allow another “illegal occupation” of the city, that there will be no tolerance for long-term protests and that all camps will be broken up.
By 4pm on Friday, city officials said they had issued 185 tickets and towed 20 vehicles related to the rally.
A statement from the Rolling Thunder website attributed to organizer Neil Sheard said protesters planned to leave on Sunday and did not support blockades, obstruction of police in the performance of their duties, damage to property or hatred and aggression. to the people of Ottawa. ”
The statement also encouraged supporters to abide by the law and said police would be held accountable in court for their actions during the event.
“Finally, as seen during the legal protest in Ottawa, spread as much peace, love and patriotism as possible to your fellow Canadians,” the statement said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 29, 2022.
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