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Monday, January 31, 2022

Freedom Convoy 2022 protests in Ottawa, Day 2

Freedom Convoy: Truckers cause chaos in Ottawa after second day of protests | BBC News

January 30, 2022 - "Protesters against a vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the US-Canada border have brought Canada's capital city to a standstill for a second day. Thousands of demonstrators joined the so-called Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.

"Police have started investigations after several incidents, including the appearance of swastika flags and footage of a woman dancing on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Defence Minister Anita Anand said the incidents were 'beyond reprehensible'. Ottawa police said in a Twitter post that 'several' investigations were now under way into the 'desecration' of a number of monuments in the capital city, as well as 'threatening/illegal/intimidating behaviour to police/city workers and other individuals and damage to a city vehicle'.

"Elsewhere across the city, truckers blocked the streets around Canada's parliament building and Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson said some protesters had harassed staff at a soup kitchen, demanding free meals after they were turned away by restaurants for their refusal to comply with indoor mask mandates. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family also left their home in Ottawa over safety concerns on Saturday....

"The demonstration has grown beyond a call to end the cross-border mandate to a push to an end to all vaccine mandates nationwide, and some demonstrators have pledged to continue their protests until they are removed."
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60190452

Zero arrests all weekend at Freedom Convoy in Ottawa | True North - Candice Malcolm: 

January 30, 2022 - "Ottawa Police have reported zero arrests at the Freedom Convoy and Rally on Parliament Hill this weekend, this despite Justin Trudeau and several journalists warning that the protests would be violent and even suggesting that the truckers were domestic terrorists.... 'Large crowds remained in the downtown core throughout the night and were actively managed by police,' read a statement issued by the Ottawa Police Service Sunday morning at 8:00 am. 'Officers encountered several challenges with demonstrators, including sporadic road blockages by trucks, which officers worked to clear. These high-risk situations were de-escalated and resolved with no arrests.' A subsequent statement issued on Sunday evening at 7:30pm stated that police had dealt with some 'disruptive, inappropriate and threatening behaviour from demonstrators' but did not mention any arrests."
Read more: https://tnc.news/2022/01/30/zero-arrests-all-weekend-at-freedom-convoy-in-ottawa/

Anthony Furey, "FUREY FACTOR: OTTAWA-BOUND CONVOY Truckers are protesting vax mandates; what will happen?" Toronto Sun, January 26, 2022:

MPs Told to Hide From Anti-Vaxxer Convoy by Parliament Security Chief | Vice - Justin Ling

January 28, 2022 - "On Thursday evening, Sergeant-at-Arms Patrick McDonell, who is responsible for security on Parliament Hill, sent an email to MPs about Saturday’s demonstration. 'Solicitations were issued to the online community for Members’ residential addresses in the Ottawa-Gatineau area,' he wrote. 'This is known as doxing—a process of finding and publishing personal information about a particular individual on the Internet, usually with malicious intent.' McDonell offered extraordinary advice to MPs: “Do not get involved and go somewhere safe,” and “close and lock all exterior doors.”
Read more: https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvnd34/mps-told-to-hide-from-anti-vaxxer-trucker-convoy-by-parliament-security-chief

'You've made your point:' Ottawa mayor urges 'Freedom Convoy' protesters to leave | CTV News - Josh Pringle:

January 31, 2022 - "Ottawa residents are being urged to avoid non-essential travel into the downtown core and several businesses will be closed today, as the demonstration protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions enters another day. Hundreds of trucks remained parked on Wellington Street and other roads throughout the downtown core, with residents and businesses expressing frustration with the constant blaring of horns and fireworks at all hours.

"Ottawa’s mayor issued a fresh call for the protesters to leave on Monday, saying Ottawa residents have been 'more than patient' and the protesters are disturbing residents and harming small businesses. 'I think it’s time for them to move on,' Jim Watson told CTV Morning Live.... Ottawa police acknowledged Sunday evening that it's aware many demonstrators have announced their intentions to stay. [Ottawa Police] Chief Peter Sloly told CTV News Ottawa Sunday evening that officers are communicating with organizers to facilitate the safe departure of vehicles, but it is unclear when the protests will end.... '[T]here's no real clarity yet," said Sloly. 'I think the only thing we can say for sure we're still going to be dealing with some level of traffic disruption and demonstration over the next 24 hours.'"
Read more: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/you-ve-made-your-point-ottawa-mayor-urges-freedom-convoy-protesters-to-leave-1.5760880

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