Counter-protesters brave extreme cold, attempt to block convoy from entering Ottawa
Posted Feb 13, 2022 06:44:00 PM.
Counter-protesters gathered at two Ottawa intersections in an attempt to block the convoy from entering the downtown core.
A group of sign-holding residents braved the extreme cold and made their way to the streets in the early morning of Sunday, February 13.
They gathered at Bank Street and Riverside Drive, as well as Bronson Avenue and Fifth Avenue.
A lot of sentiment among the Bank/Riverside crowd that we’re here for all of Ottawa, supporting Centretown, ByWard, Vanier, Overbrook. Crowd is growing with Ottawans from all over, we want the city back. Convoy members staying in their trucks. pic.twitter.com/ZLjykFusoY
— Stephen La Salle (@TheSKLaSalle) February 13, 2022
The bundled-up counter-protesters were not deterred by Environment Canada’s extreme cold warning. Temperatures were expected to drop to near minus-35 C with the wind chill.
Spurred on by Joel Harden, the NDP MPP for Ottawa Centre, a few dozen protesters had already made their way out by 9 a.m., according to social media photos.
“Enough. The beginning of the end of the #OttawaSiege starts now,” tweeted Harden. “Come join us at Bank/Riverside and Bronson/Fifth. We are peaceful but also fed up.”
The counter-protesters held signs like “Go Home Truckers,” “Make Ottawa Boring Again” or “This is Not What Democracy Looks Like.”
Enough. The beginning of the end of the #OttawaSiege starts now. Come join us at Bank/Riverside and Bronson/Fifth. We are peaceful but also fed up. pic.twitter.com/oLlRh5YWGc
— Joel Harden (@JoelHardenONDP) February 13, 2022
Blockade of convoy coming into town right now on Bank and Riverside.
Need some folks to help.
Come on down. pic.twitter.com/PKmkmSfhBr
— Sam Hersh (@SamHersh01) February 13, 2022
The counter-protest continued into the afternoon.
Reports online suggested convoy protest organizer Pat King, during a livestream Sunday afternoon, urged supporters of the so-called 'freedom rally' to converge on Bank Street and Riverside Drive.
But that did not materialize by late Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile protesting continued in downtown Ottawa despite the cold, with trucks and vehicles encamped by Parliament Hill idled amid frigid temperatures.
We are hearing threats of violence from the convoy. We are here and peaceful and will not be bullied by fascists. We need more numbers. All out to Bank & riverside
— James Hutt (@JamesRHutt) February 13, 2022
We are holding the line at Bank and Riverside and not letting the convoy into downtown Ottawa. When governments fail us, people take action. We keep each other safe! #FluTruxKlanGoHome #ottcity pic.twitter.com/zEcpqiuREU
— ArielTroster (she/her) (@ArielTroster) February 13, 2022
