Big rigs roll into downtown Ottawa as police call in reinforcements
OTTAWA — Dozens of big rigs rolled into downtown Ottawa Friday, as a planned protest began to swell in size and energy, and some in attendance promised to stay put until vaccine mandates are abolished or Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is forced from office.
But what some believe to be a demonstration in support of truckers opposed to a crossborder vaccine mandate is, in fact, a much broader push to end all COVID-19 restrictions. It is rooted in a movement that goes at least as far back as the last time a convoy of trucks rallied on Parliament Hill.
Smaller groups of protesters have been staging events around Ottawa, including outside what they seemed to think was Trudeau’s home, for months.
While police have warned their intelligence is flagging the potential for violence, the atmosphere Friday in the early hours of the demonstration was more carnival than combat.
The noise at times was overwhelming, with people cheering, car horns blaring, music blasting and vehicles circling in a constant parade. Expletiveladen signs and decals targeting Trudeau were a dominant theme around downtown.
While some commercial trucks were around, the vast majority of vehicles were still personal cars and pickup trucks.
By late afternoon at least 1,000 people lined the road, sidewalks and lawn in front of Centre Block, some setting up barbecues and others looking to camp out in their vehicles. The sharp scent of marijuana hovered over much of the scene.
“This is a love-in,” said DanaLee Melfi. “It’s like I’m in the ’70s. We are going to show the world how to get this stuff started.”
Melfi, dressed head to toe in camouflage, said he lives in the Ontario “bush” and would camp out in Ottawa for weeks if necessary until the mandates end. Others want more than that. Robyn May, a business owner from Long Point, Ont., said she plans to stay until “Justin Trudeau is no longer our prime minister.”
“We are not a free country,” May said, adding her business had been forced to close at times because of government orders.
As dusk settled, the protest began to spill out of Parliament Hill toward the ByWard Market and down other city streets. Hundreds more vehicles were expected by today, from Western Canada, Quebec and the Maritimes.
As evening fell, commercial rigs lined the road, double file, their lights glaring in the darkness, their horns blaring.
In Rigaud, Que., near the Ontario border, a heavy police presence watched convoy supporters amass at a truck stop. Some were there to support, while others were headed to Ottawa, demanding “freedom.”
Peter Julius said what started about trucking has morphed into something more, in his opinion, with a message to government that lockdowns and mandates are excessive and unnecessary.
“People are tired, that’s what it comes down to,” said Julius, a father of three from SaintLazare, Que., who attended with his children.
“Canada’s a free country and it feels like we’re stuck in prison. Yes, we’re free, but we’re limited to what we can do, we’re limited to see our family, who we can have over.”
“It’s not a way to live,” he said.