Despite Canadian Police efforts at clearing “Freedom Convoy” trucks from the Ambassador Bridge, the transportation artery remains closed to traffic as protestors “hold the line.”
Freedom Convoy trucks have cleared the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, after blocking the busiest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada for nearly six days, after police arrived Saturday morning to enforce an injunction to end their demonstrations – but a crowd of protesters has gathered nearby to ‘hold the line.’Protests also continued in Ottawa, the epicenter of the movement, for the third weekend in a row.Hundreds of people waving Canadian flags and holding anti-Trudeau signs braved the snow and cold temperatures Saturday as they filled the downtown area of the, [sic] walking between massive trucks that have been parked in place for weeks, paralyzing the Canadian capital.In Windsor, as the vehicles moved out, a handful of people who remained near the entrance of the bridge gradually grew and as of 1 p.m. had turned into a large crowd of people who refused to leave. Police in black uniforms with yellow safety vests formed a line between the bridge and the crowd and have been steadily pushing back the demonstrators, as some shouted ‘shame,’ ‘freedom’ and ‘you’re on the wrong side.’Windsor Police stated on Twitter around 11 a.m. that they could begin making arrests if protesters continued to block traffic.
It is being reported the truckers are being joined by some of Canada’s veterans, who have joined the demonstrators to provide additional support.
At first, the demonstrators calmly packed up their BBQs and took down their tents, with most leaving without any resistance, according to Sean O’Shea of Canada’s Global News.But while shoulder-to-shoulder lines made up of dozens of officers, many in military-style gear, slowly squeezed the demonstrators away from the intersection leading to the bridge, a steady flow of people carrying flags and chanting, “Freedom!” began joining the tense but peaceful standoff.Law enforcement initially outnumbered the demonstrators, according to reporters on the scene, but by midday, the demonstrators had swelled to a few thousand people….“There has been very little, if any, movement from the police line for hours. Windsor protesters again have loud music blasting. There’s no traffic flowing on the Ambassador Bridge. No arrests,” journalist Thomas Daigle of CBC News tweeted around 5:30 p.m.
Some officials seem to be panicking at the citizen push-back to the police action.
As the afternoon dragged on, some Canadians questioned what was behind the delay, given the order issued by a court on Friday to end the blockade and the imposition of a state of emergency declared by Ontario authorities.”It would essentially send a message that the state is not able to retain control, where it’s attempted to do so,” Michael Kempa, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa, told CBC News.”The longer this drags on, the longer people have the idea that what they are doing is not an illegal protest,” he said.
As predicted, the robust use of federal force and the unwillingness to repeal mandates and other ineffective pandemic response policies are tanking Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus’s ratings.
A Maru Public Opinion survey of 1,506 Canadian adults who are Maru panellists taken Feb. 9 – 10 found 48%, believe Trudeau has demonstrated he’s not up to the job of being prime minister, compared to only 35% who disagree with 18% unsure.Meanwhile, 45% said Trudeau has shown that someone else should lead the Liberal Party of Canada, compared to 35% who disagree and 18% unsure.Only 16% said Trudeau has made them want to vote for him because of how he has dealt with the vaccine mandate protests, while 63% said he has not, with 21% unsure.A majority, 53%, said Trudeau has looked weak in the face of the threats to the country posed by the vaccine mandate protests compared to 31% who disagree, with 16% unsure.A plurality of 44% said Trudeau has inflamed the situation, compared to 38% who disagree and 18% unsure.
I had a chance to talk about the Freedom Convoy with Silvio Canto Jr. during our annual Valentine’s Day show.
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