Community association feels ‘abandoned’ by city, police amid Ottawa protests

A local community association is feeling “abandoned” by the city and its police force, citing a “failure to protect and support” residents amid protests in downtown Ottawa. 

On Sunday, February 6, the Centretown Community Association (CCA) penned a three-page letter to Mayor Jim Watson and Ottawa Police Services (OPS) chief Peter Sloly about the “illegal occupation” of the trucker convoy protests.

“Our members feel increasingly abandoned by the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police Services,” the letter, written by CCA president Mary Huang, reads. “Trust in both institutions continues to erode. The current state of affairs has escalated because of the utter failure of the police and the city to properly plan for and manage this situation.”

Images of the 3 pages letter to @JimWatsonOttawa and @OPSChiefSloly about the #Freedomconvoy #OttawaOccupation. Please like and retweet if you agree with the letter.https://t.co/9L6YwXwH2n pic.twitter.com/Yob0m5QOjC

— Centretown Community Association (@CentretownCCA) February 6, 2022

In the letter, Huang said the occupation of “Freedom Convoy” protesters was “entirely foreseeable” because the mainstream media widely reported on the intent protesters had to take over Ottawa and their demands were widely shared.

Moreover, she cited it was well known that “Freedom Convoy” protest organizers were involved in extremist political organizations and groups that promote racist and anti-2SLGBTQ+ hate.

“Essentially, they are very much trying to intimidate and cause as much chaos as possible,” Huang told CityNews Ottawa. “It's not a peaceful protest.”

Huang said in her letter the “Freedom Convoy” protesters haven't been peaceful due to instances of residents being heckled and allegedly assaulted, forcing businesses to temporarily shut down, displaying various hate symbols and flouting noise by-laws, amongst other reasons.

Moreover, she wrote services such as libraries were forced to temporarily close, paramedics were subjected to racial slurs and thrown rocks and some community workers faced harassment.

“Despite all this, the city and the police failed to put in place a plan to effectively deal with these occupiers,” Huang wrote. “For example, the police and city could have closed portions of the downtown core close to Parliament Hill and prevented any vehicles from entering this area prior to the occupiers arriving, as is commonly done when major protests are anticipated and as Toronto is doing.”

Huang told CityNews Ottawa the CCA is hearing complaints from Centretown residents — especially those living close to Parliament Hill — about the “incessant noise” and diesel fumes at 2 a.m.

She added that one solution is for all levels of government to step up and take leadership — especially if people want to see a reduced impact on residents.

“I'm not seeing a lot of leadership, right now, throughout all three levels of government,” Huang said. “If you can't lead, put somebody in your team that can do it and can solve it.”

On top of that, she said people shouldn't be calling on other groups to take responsibility. Instead, people should “use every single tool in everybody's toolbox together.”

Her letter calls on the city and the OPS to take immediate action to protect Centretown residents by enforcing applicable by-laws, obtaining court injunctions to clear residential areas, making an effort to contain protests and ensuring no more vehicles can join the demonstrations.

She also calls for an apology to residents for “grossly mishandling the situation” and failing to protect local communities.

Other groups have also recently penned letters regarding the ongoing “Freedom Convoy” protests.

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth started an open letter on Saturday, February 5 for health-care workers to sign, vowing to not let disinformation, violence and threats undermine science and patient care.

With files from Perushka Gopalkista