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Supporters of ‘Freedom Convoy’ Gather Near Parliament Hill in Ottawa Ahead of Weekend Demonstration
Supporters of truck drivers crossing Canada to protest a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border travel gathered in Ottawa on Friday, January 28, ahead of the convoy’s scheduled arrival in the capital city. The demonstration was scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, causing “major traffic safety issues,” according to the Ottawa Police. “With demonstrations of this scale, there are significant risks to be mitigated but that we can not eliminate,” the department tweeted. “Our officers are here to protect the rights of individuals to demonstrate peacefully and in accordance with the law,” police said. “We are also entrusted to intervene when violence and laws are broken and restore peace.” As of January 15, Canada has required truck drivers to be fully vaccinated or face a two-week quarantine period when crossing back into Canada from the US. On January 22, the US Department of Homeland Security began requiring “non-US individuals” to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination when entering the country through land ports and ferry terminals at both the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders. The convoy was expected to reach Ottawa on January 29, local media reported. Footage filmed by Joe Bowie near Parliament Hill shows supporters waving Canadian flags and holding signs reading “Segregation is not Canadian.” Credit: Joe Bowie via Storyful
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