Apparently, there is violence at the Canadian “Freedom Convoy” protests.
However, it is directed at the participants of the convoy.
A 42-year-old Headingley man faces charges of assault with a weapon, dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a serious accident after Winnipeg Police allege he drove his Jeep through a group of Freedom Convoy protesters at the Manitoba Legislature grounds injuring four men.“(The Jeep) was moving at a pretty decent clip and it’s pretty miraculous that nobody sustained any serious injuries,” said police spokesperson Const. Rob Carver at a media briefing Saturday.On Friday night at shortly before 10 p.m., a motor vehicle collision occurred near Broadway and Memorial Boulevard. Police said that initial information was that a westbound white Jeep Patriot had driven through the group of protesters.Protesters have been parked in front of the Legislature since Friday morning as a sign of solidarity for similar protests in Ottawa, Toronto and provincial capitals across the country. Police estimated that around 100 protesters and 40 to 50 vehicles were at the Legislature Friday night with the crowd growing Saturday to several hundred and possibly as high as 500.
What few media reports there are indicate that police apprehended the suspect about an hour after the attack, after he fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The suspect was arrested after a brief struggle.
According to Winnipeg Police Constable Rob Carver, the suspect is being charged with assault with a weapon times four, dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm times two, dangerous operation of a conveyance, failure to stop after accident knowing that the driver was reckless times two and failing to stop at the scene of an accident times two.Protests in support of the Trucker for Freedom Convoy are planned throughout the weekend in Winnipeg and several other major cities.Parallel demonstrations are being held in Ottawa, Toronto, Victoria and elsewhere.Prior reports by Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth described the protests as cooperative and peaceful.Law enforcement has reduced traffic on Broadway to one lane where the attack took place.
As a result of this incident, Canadian conservatives called out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his comments smearing the “Freedom Convoy” protests as racist and “fringe.” The organizers are also calling upon the media its job properly.
Canadian conservative media figures were swift to point out the correlation between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments vilifying the “Freedom Convoy” currently taking place in Ottawa, the nation’s capital, and the actions of the driver.“I don’t know what happened here but hey mainstream media in Winnipeg, this is an opportunity for you to find out what happened and inform us,” independent journalist Rupa Subramanya wrote on Twitter.“A freedom protester was mowed down by an SUV late last night. Suspect has been arrested. Trudeau vilified these peaceful protests, and now this happens. Shocking,” journalist and host of the “Counter Signal” podcast Keean Bexte wrote….“So we have our first incident of violence at at trucker protest. And it’s an attack against the protesters. Did Justin Trudeau’s extremist rhetoric radicalize that terrorist?” Rebel News co-founder and publisher Ezra Levant tweeted.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY