Convoy counter-protesters spend second night outside Ottawa police headquarters

Counter-protesters to the trucker convoy on Parliament Hill gathered in front of Ottawa Police Headquarters on Elgin Street for a second evening.

The group gathered overnight on Wednesday, February 2 to express their disappointment in the lack of action from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) in the wake of the ongoing “Freedom Convoy” blockading downtown streets.

One sign read, “You are doing your job too Sloly,” a clear shot at Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly, while another protest sign read, “Tell the terrorists to go home.”

Standing outside @OttawaPolice with other concerned citizens@JoelHardenONDP @cmckenney pic.twitter.com/QqM54BS4gm

— Garth Boyd (@garthoid) February 2, 2022

 

Residents of downtown Ottawa are coming together to keep each other safe.
People have the right to walk the street without threat or intimidation.
There is a vigil outside the @OttawaPolice station on Elgin by people who feel abandoned by the city and the police. pic.twitter.com/WwxInkzIwc

— Charlie Angus (@CharlieAngusNDP) February 2, 2022

Centretown resident Rhys McGraw, who was in attendence, tells CityNews Ottawa, those living downtown have become increasingly disillusioned with police officers who he says are simply tolerating the bad behaviour of convoy protestors, rather than enforcing the law.

“I've seen the worst five or six days of being a downtown residents, you know, over the last 10-15 years,” McGraw said. 

McGraw says there were about 30 people at the protest Wednesday, and that number is expected to grow over the coming days. 

Chief Sloly said Wednesday, the longer the protest drags on, the less he's convinced a “policing solution” will end the situation, and said asking the military for help has not been ruled out. 

In the meantime, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is asking people to come forward and report any hate crime, adding that there is no incident too big or small to report. Hate-motivate incidents can be reported to 613-236-1222 ext. 5015.