UPDATE: Thousands sign online petition demanding more action from Ottawa police at convoy protests

As of 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 3, over 28,000 signatures have been collected for the petition. 

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With “Freedom Convoy” protesters confirming they will not leave the city until their demands are met along with growing frustrations in the city’s downtown core from residents, criticism of Ottawa’s police force continues to grow. 

The latest of that criticism can be found in a petition circulating online on Change.org, demanding that the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) “evict” the convoy from the city. 

The petition went live on Tuesday, February 1 — and as of Wednesday, over 6,600 signatures have been collected (and growing). 

“The Freedom Rally has been going on for five days and shows no signs of ending of its own volition,” organizer Jeremy Owen wrote on the petition’s page. “In the meantime, residents of downtown — including vulnerable homeless and mentally ill — are being directly affected by constant noise, and a party atmosphere of bad behaviour. Furthermore, traffic to the core has been cut off, preventing thousands of citizens from accessing their jobs or other crucial services for life.”

Ottawa police, Owen alleges, have “done nothing” in regards to criminal offences, like desecrating monuments such as the Terry Fox status and the War Memorial. 

“Enough is enough — we support the right to protest,” he wrote. “But even if this was a legitimate movement with a coherent message, it would still be past time to allow the normal and harmonious life of the city to resume.”

Police announced on Tuesday that two arrests have been made in relation to incidents that happened during the protest, while a third was arrested on Wednesday, February 2.

Two Ottawa men were charged — one with mischief to property, and the other with carrying a weapon.

A third man from Quebec was also charged with uttering threats and counseling to commit an indictable offence not committed.

Police assure that investigations into the War Memorial continue, as do 13 other investigations.

In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” said they will “remain in Ottawa for as long as it takes.”

“Convoy leaders, who are meeting daily, also expressed regret that citizens of Canada’s capital are bearing this inconvenience,” Chris Barber, an organizer of the demonstration, wrote. 

“We demand that the police of this city do their job for this city, and that means clearing streets, and ticketing vehicle and noise infractions,” Owen continued. “Not taking selfies and making excuses.”

CityNews Ottawa has reached out to police for comment relating to this petition. As of 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, February 2, they have not provided comment.