Convoy against compulsory vaccination of thousands of people in Ottawa against health measures

(Ottawa) “I want freedom back! After hundreds, if not thousands of kilometers of road, all convoys of truckers opposed to compulsory vaccination and their supporters completed their journey in Ottawa on Saturday. They turned the capital's city center into open-air festivities and forced dozens of traders to close their doors ahead of schedule.

The deafening honks of heavy trucks, acclaimed from all sides, make the ground vibrate. Screams, music, explosions of firecrackers and fireworks echo through the air. The crowd dances and shares food. The atmosphere is fiery. Despite the thousands of protesters, the Ottawa Police Service reported no incidents during its last report, around 8 p.m. Saturday evening.

Recall that convoys of truckers and supporters, opposed to the compulsory vaccination of long-haul drivers, converged on the capital, Ottawa, for several days in a movement called "Canada Unity". For some protesters, the vaccination requirement was the straw that broke the camel's back. For others, it is a movement of solidarity between vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Everyone calls for an end to health measures related to COVID-19.

Leaders of the movement, however, have ties to white supremacist ideologies. Among the hundreds of Canadian, Quebec or patriot flags waved on Parliament Hill on Saturday were also secessionist flags and Gadsden Flags. Yellow and decorated with a rattlesnake and the motto "Don't Tread on Me", these historic American flags linked to the libertarian movement were notably used by pro-Trump activists during the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault.

“We came to add our names to the cause. It goes too far, blackmail with the population. It goes beyond the limits, ”said Patrick Acke, a young Sherbrooke resident dressed in furs who was waving a Gadsden Flag on the sidewalk of Wellington Street on Saturday morning.

Protesters already in town gathered in front of the Ottawa parliament early in the day on Saturday. Frozen eyelashes and beards, in snow or hunting clothes, accompanied by children or brandishing signs, they chanted their calls for freedom.

The crowd has grown over the hours, similar in number to that of Canada Day, said Amy Gagnon, communications officer for the Ottawa Police Service late Saturday afternoon – several thousand people. Some protesters, however, told La Presse that they estimated to be "hundreds of thousands" on the spot.

Between solidarity and extremism

"I don't want any more hatred, I want to find freedom," said Kevin Daize, 51 years old and vaccinated. The Ottawan held up a sign illustrating a handshake between “vax” and “non-vax”.

Beside him, Christopher Eid, 28, unvaccinated from Montreal, adds: “I think our voices should be heard by our Prime Minister. It is a peaceful event that unites Canadians everywhere. »

In the surrounding streets, traffic has been diverted for security reasons. Clive Henderson, an Ontario postman, who lost his job with the federal government because he was not vaccinated, is also taking part in the movement.

I want my job back, so I hope they [the government] will change their mind.

Clive Henderson, Ontario Postman

The slogans "No mandate" and "F* * *Trudeau" could be read on vehicles, signs and even on a helicopter which flew over the parliament around 2 p.m. a no-fly zone. At the same time, Pat King, one of the organizers, encouraged the crowd to shout in chorus: “Justin Trudeau must go! »

A video posted to Twitter by Department of National Defense Director General Steven Thornton also showed people at the National War Memorial waving their arms shouting, “Freedom! One person even seemed to jump on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

According to Ottawa police, convoy leaders were still working together to provide security for the protest. A large number of people arrived independently, however, and calls for hatred and violence had been circulating on social networks for several days.

Justin Trudeau in solitary confinement

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, was not at Rideau Cottage on Saturday. "He continues to isolate himself in the National Capital Region," said the Prime Minister's Office, which would not comment further on the situation for security reasons.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance has again distanced itself from the protest against mandatory vaccinations, saying it appears a number of participants have no connection to the trucking industry. She warned that these protesters had separate goals.

The commemoration of the attack on the great mosque of Quebec which was to take place in Ottawa was finally held virtually for fear of racist attacks from demonstrators.

The leader of the People's Party of Canada, Maxime Bernier, joined the protesters on Parliament Hill, where he made a plea for "freedom".

A mall stormed, without masks

A crowd without a mask also stormed the Rideau Mall on Saturday. Almost all businesses had to close their doors in the afternoon. “We are closing now, and we will not open tomorrow [ce dimanche]”, confirmed to La Presse Elise Houle, of the Laura Secord chocolate factory. At 5 p.m., when the mall was locking its doors, Ottawa police were deployed to force the last holdouts off the premises.

In nearby businesses and hotels, La Presse found that people were no longer wearing masks. “We ask them, but they refuse to put them on,” said the hotel employee who could not speak publicly.

@jvgraz The kicker is that I work for Big Pharma. You'd think that would buy me a little extra coverage.

— Steven Perez Tue Jul 02 11:55:48 +0000 2019

Early Saturday, downtown Ottawa looked like the morning after, with tents, sleepers in cars, packed hostels and Tim Hortons at full capacity.

So far peaceful protests

If they are noisy, the mobilizations that are currently taking place in Ottawa have so far remained festive. After the euphoria, are overflows possible? From a minority, perhaps, warn experts.

Despite the thousands of people in the streets, the protests remained peaceful on Saturday. At times, they even looked like a big party.

If the protest movement is above all about the compulsory vaccination of truckers, it has rallied a host of protesters to its cause. Antivaccines, provaccines opposed to health measures, opponents of Trudeau. And angry people, above all.

“It seems difficult to paint a composite picture of the typical protester who is currently in Ottawa. People are there for different reasons. […] There is the phenomenon of people who can no longer take it and who seize all the pretexts to express their dissatisfaction,” notes Samuel Tanner, professor and director of the School of Criminology at the University of Montreal.

Far-right groups, led by convoy organizer Patrick King, also sympathize with the crowds.

This fringe of militants poses more of a security risk, according to Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former executive of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. “Several are under investigation. We take their plate number, their photo. You have to be prepared in case someone does something later,” he says.

Criminologist Samuel Tanner, who specializes in the study of violent extremism, social movements and security, for his part, fears that the convoys are used as vehicles for radical ideologies. “It is not impossible that right-wing or radical right-wing activists see this as an opportunity to get people talking about them, to gain new visibility. It is a form of populism,” he explains.

Accumulated frustrations

If the cold is not enough to chase protesters from downtown Ottawa, local authorities have an arsenal of remedies, says Michel Juneau-Katsuya.

The increased police presence in the capital is done with the collaboration of the police services of Ottawa, Toronto, Durham, London and York, as well as with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Mounted Police Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Vans, officers on foot in crowds and on rooftops patrol. Drones monitor the movements of the crowd.

“Today, we were tolerant, because we let the democratic process go. But blocking downtown Ottawa is important. […] It may very well be that at some point, the police intervene and go and give big tickets because people are not wearing a mask or because they are parked too long, ”lists Mr. Juneau.

And what happens next? When this radical minority will have to return home and their plan to “overthrow the government” or bring down any health restrictions will have failed?

“Some people will come home frustrated. There may be some who will want to take matters into their own hands in their hometown. Because because of the event, they will feel invested with a mission, ”fears the national security expert. Some people are at risk of being radicalized in this way, he judges.

Strengthening security

This weekend, convoys of truckers forced the closure of a vaccination clinic in Gatineau. According to Michel Juneau-Katsuya, security around vaccination clinics and politicians at all levels of government could be reinforced.

On Saturday, a vigil in memory of the victims of the attack on the great mosque of Quebec which was to take place in Ottawa was canceled for fear that it would be disrupted by the demonstrators. “A lot of people on the hill are far-right, more conservative, […] anti-immigration sympathizers. They're not all like that, but there's a lot of them in there. »

They said

The end is coming, yes, we will be able to celebrate our freedom in a few days, because we will win this battle for freedom!

Maxime Bernier, leader of the People's Party of Canada, in a speech on Parliament Hill

Today [Saturday], we commemorate five years since the terrorist attack at the Quebec City mosque. And, today, elected conservatives endorse a convoy led by people who promote white supremacy and who describe Islam as a disease.

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party

I support the right to peaceful protest, but that should not be confused with a blatant disrespect for the men and women who have served, inspired and protected our country.

Erin O’Toole, leader of the Conservative Party, referring to protesters who decorated the statue of Terry Fox and allegedly danced at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

I urge all Canadians to treat them with respect for those who fought and died for Canada. The behavior we have seen today is beyond reprehensible.

Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, in reference to protesters who danced at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

If truckers are blockading the city of Ottawa today, it is because all the other ramparts in our society, which should normally protect democracy, our rights and our freedoms, have failed. […] Our elected officials must listen to the message conveyed by the demonstrators. […] This is the beginning of the end for health professionals.

Éric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec

Canadians are not represented by this very troubling, small but very vocal minority of Canadians who attack science, government, society, prescriptions and public health advice.

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday

With The Canadian Press