It’s day 2 on Sunday for the protest against the federal liberal government, vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions
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It’s once again sunny and extremely cold in Ottawa, where large rigs remain parked near Parliament this morning, and the city prepares for another day of Freedom Convoy protests. Police said “large crowds” roamed the sidewalks and occupied the streets overnight, but there was no violence or arrests. Protesters can expect much heavier security today around national monuments and especially the National War Memorial after images of protesters dancing, drinking and even urinating on the memorial outraged Canadians.
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If you missed it, here’s the National Post summary of Saturday’s action.
And here’s what’s happening today …
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Protesters block the Alberta highway near the U.S. border crossing at Coutts
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Alberta Mayors Criticize Conservative MP’s ‘Lack of Judgment’ at Ottawa Protest
12:04
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11:58
‘A really hard day’ for Shepherds of Good Hope
Two apparent protesters assaulted a homeless person near the Shepherds of Good Hope on Saturday and then threw racial slander at the security guard, who rushed to help, the president of the shelter said on Sunday.
Later on Saturday, a group of warring, dewormed protesters demanded food in the soup kitchen. Staff members who were harassed gave meals to some of the protesters to de-escalate the situation, Deirdre Freiheit told The Ottawa Citizen.
“It was a very difficult day for them. The disruptions were many. They work hard, they are tired and we lack manpower. When people deprive them of their ability to provide services to many of the most vulnerable people in the city, it is very discouraging. .
“It was a really hard day all around.”
Most of the day Saturday, access to Shepherds, on the corner of Murray Street and King Edward Avenue, was blocked by unsupervised protest trucks being left driving. Freiheit said it meant ambulances were unable to get in and staff were having a harder time reaching out to people in the community who might be overdosing or in need of help. “It could have cost someone his life.”
A tweet from Shepherds of Good Hope about the situation has aroused indignation and donations are pouring in to the shepherds.
Freiheit said, “There is always something good coming out of difficult situations.”
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11:45
Police are launching a criminal investigation
Ottawa police have launched “several criminal investigations” into the “desecration” of the National War Memorial and the Terry Fox Statue on Saturday, as well as “threatening / illegal / harassing behavior” to police officers, city workers and other protesters.
“We request that all incidents of threats or assaults be reported to the police so that they can be investigated. We are committed to investigating all criminal incidents. “
10:53
‘People are rightly concerned about their safety’
Councilman Catherine McKenny, who represents Centretown and Downtown Ottawa, said she began hearing from residents Saturday night with escalating concerns.
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It included a voter reporting that something had been thrown at their window where a rainbow flag was displayed. Someone also got feces under the window.
“We’re used to protests in this city,” McKenny said told The Ottawa Citizen. »We live in the capital. “Some of them are very big, but what’s happening now is that it’s just pouring in and out of people’s neighborhoods, and people are rightly concerned about their safety.”
The fact that some protesters carry racist symbols, including swastikas and Confederate flags, has led McKenny to demand that protesters be removed from all residential areas.
“I can not imagine what it must be like today for someone in the center, who is black, native, Jew or Muslim, to see the types of messages on posters and the flags that are waved. We have seen the desecration of the Terry Fox monument and the tomb of the unknown soldier. If they have to do that, they will have little respect for people’s front gardens. ”
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Harme also grew to the news that staff at Ottawa’s Shepherds of Good Hope had been harassed for feeding some protesters.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson wrote on Twitter that this was “completely unacceptable behavior” by the protesters.
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10.00
It’s quiet for now
Here’s Sunday’s itinerary according to Freedom Convoy:
11:00 – Prayer for unity service held by Mennonite priest Henry Hildebrandt. All religious denominations are welcome.
Location: Parliament Hill
13.00 – 1st press conference.
Location: Not Revealed (Livestream)
9:30
Keep the peace
The Ottawa Police Service says crowds and vehicles clogged the capital city through the night as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions, and the federal liberal government is extending into its second day.
The force says officers encountered several “challenges” with protesters, including trucks that sporadically blocked access to roads, but the incidents were resolved without arrests.
The police say they continue to monitor the demonstration focusing on “to preserve peace”, maintain access to emergency tracks and address any “threatening high risk behavior.”
They say national monuments will be protected and that barricades have been installed to block vehicles from accessing the path in front of the National War Memorial.
Public officials condemned the “desecration” of monuments to Canadian heroes after some protesters were seen jumping on the grave of the unknown soldier yesterday.
With files from The Canadian Press
