Residents begin counter-protesting downtown Ottawa convoy
Posted Feb 2, 2022 12:09:00 PM.
More than five days of loud truck horns, as the vehicles and their protesters block downtown streets, have pushed some Ottawa residents to begin picking up protest signs against the convoy and the police response.
Videos posted on social media showed a lone man on Wellington Street on on Tuesday, February 1, holding up a sign that read, “we will not be held hostage in our own city.”
Police spoke with the man before leaving. At times, the man was surrounded by convoy supporters, waving flags and holding up their signs around his.
The supposedly pro-freedom crowd is swarming the lone counter protester and trying to block his sign, which is an odd way to demonstrate respect for his freedom on expression. #cdnpoli #antivaxxers #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/qC5cLiX4HZ
— Caryma Sa'd – Lawyer + Political Commentator (@CarymaRules) February 1, 2022
People who live in downtown Ottawa, Centretown and other core neighbourhoods have grown frustrated at reports of harassment, assault, vandalism and intimidation, and angry with Ottawa police and their handling of the convoy. A small group took that message to police headquarters, Tuesday evening.
There was a group at the police station tonight too. Had about 17 people show out throughout the evening. pic.twitter.com/YVLdWpmcxK
— Chris Ducas (@chris_ducas) February 2, 2022
Earlier on Tuesday, a group of four women stood in a small residential street to block the path of a large truck. One of the women said on social media that she gave the trucker a thumbs-down every time he honked his horn.
Three brave senior women say ENOUGH #Ottawa
(Posted with permission from Facebook) pic.twitter.com/zzR0P034ui
— Kathleen O'Grady (@kathleenogrady) February 1, 2022
Ottawa's police chief has pledged to charge and prosecute anyone who commits a crime during the convoy protest, but said that his officers are currently focused on de-escalating situations by refraining from enforcement actions like ticketing or towing and removing the protesters' trucks.
Police announced Tuesday evening that two Ottawa men were arrested in connection with the convoy — one of them, for bringing a weapon.
Despite this, the convoy protest continues with no end in sight. Rideau Centre management has announced on its website that the downtown shopping mall will remain closed through Sunday, February 6.
