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Truck convoy: State of emergency declared; police announce arrests; people bringing ‘material’ supports to protesters — including gas — could be subject to arrest, police say
Author of the article: Bruce Deachman
Publishing date: Feb 06, 2022 • 10 hours ago
The ‘Freedom Convoy’ that converged in Ottawa more than a week ago started in response to the federal government’s move to require that all Canadian truck drivers crossing the U.S. border be fully vaccinated. The Canadian Trucking Alliance, the main advocacy body for truckers, has disavowed the protest, saying the vast majority of its members are fully vaccinated and are continuing to work. The core organizers of the protest insist that they are not anti-vaccine but instead oppose mandates that require vaccination for people to work.
9:07 p.m.
The Ottawa police issued a news release stating that on Sunday seven people had been arrested and 100 tickets issued related to demonstration enforcement.
Two were arrested for mischief on Coventry Road, three others were arrested for mischief at Metcalfe and Slater streets, and two were arrested in the morning — one for driving while prohibited and the other for mischief related to property damage at a downtown business.
More than 100 Highway Traffic Act and provincial offence notices were issued, police said, for offences that included excessive honking, driving the wrong way, defective muffler, no seat belt, alcohol readily available and having the improper class of driving licence.
Police also said multiple vehicles and fuel had been seized, and that Confederation Park had been fully cleared and fenced.
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5 p.m.
At the heart of the protest, on Wellington Street, a kilometre long line of trucks, RVs and pickups continued to stretch from Elgin Street to Bay Street Sunday with no indication that the protesters intended to leave.
They huddled around fires, managed barbecues and played street hockey in front of the Department of Justice offices.
“This is complete tyranny,” said a man in costume who described himself only as “the booster man.”
“The globalists want to take over the world and it’s not a conspiracy theory any more. It’s real. The truckers started this whole thing and we’ve taken the momentum. The world is following Canada because we’re doing a really good thing here.”
The trucks overflowed into the surrounding neighbourhood and past apartment buildings and condo towers. One residence near the corner of Kent and Nepean Streets hung a sign that said: “terrorists go home.”
At the corner of Kent and Somerset streets, Coun. Catherine McKenney distributed release agreements to the protesters. The agreements are connected to a class action lawsuit which has been filed against the protesters, seeking damages for the harm caused to local residents from the use of air horns and train horns.
“But if they’re gone by tomorrow at 10 a.m., they sign this waiver,” McKenney said, pointing to a document they were handing out to groups of protesters. “They won’t be part of the lawsuit.”
So far, the protesters had been receptive, but McKenney was unsure how many protesters would actually leave.
“I think some people might leave,” they said. “To know that you could be part of a class action lawsuit, it could be a deterrent. We’re just doing our little part. If we can get rid of five, ten, twenty, it’d be really cool.”
Meanwhile, at Confederation Park, where protesters were striking camp and moving to a larger gathering area they are using on Coventry Road, a tow truck arrived to move a wooden shack that had been used to store food and other supplies.
As dozens of police officers looked on, and with a final shout of “freedom” a group of protesters manoeuvred the shack onto the bed of the tow truck, which transported it to the Coventry site.
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4:20 p.m.
Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency on Sunday.
“Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government,” said a release from the city.
“It also provides greater flexibility within the municipal administration to enable the City of Ottawa to manage business continuity for essential services for its residents and enables a more flexible procurement process, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders.”
The announcement comes on Day 10 of the truckers’ convoy siege of downtown Ottawa. Earlier in the day, Watson admitted the city was “outnumbered” and “losing the battle.”
For the whole article:
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/truck-convoy-protesters-given-monday-deadline-to-leave-or-risk-inclusion-in-9-8-million-class-action-lawsuit
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