Since Friday, police claim they have towed another 38 automobiles.
The gridlock reached a climax on Friday, when protestors allegedly assaulted policemen and attempted to remove their firearms, according to Ottawa police.
On Friday morning, city, provincial, and federal law enforcement officers launched an extraordinary operation to clear the streets of demonstrators, their trucks, and cars. More than 100 people were arrested on Friday, and 21 vehicles were towed, CNN reported.
The blockade caused economic hardship to industry as well as blue collar workers as huge automakers had to shut their plants as goods were prevented from reaching plants on both sides of the border.
The truckers created immense hardship to residents as well as to industry especially the automakers. On Friday, a judge ruled that the blockade should be removed by 7 p.m. that day. The decision came after a four and a half hour court hearing in the city of Windsor.
According to authorities, one individual was arrested after throwing a bicycle at a police horse, while more than 100 people were arrested and 21 vehicles were towed at the conclusion of the day.
Police issued a warning to demonstrators early Saturday morning.
More than a hundred checkpoints remain in place to keep more demonstrators out of the city.
Police in Ottawa say they made 47 arrests as they cleared downtown on Saturday, a day after a weeks-long protest became violent.
Several people have been charged in connection with the protests, which have developed from opposition to a trucker vaccine mandate to a dislike for all Covid-19 safety measures.
According to Ottawa Police, Patrick James King, of Red Deer, Alberta, was detained on Friday.
Chris Barber, a key leader and organizer of the “Freedom Convoy” protests, and fellow leader Tamara Lich were arrested on Thursday, according to Ottawa police, Newsweek reported.
Following a night in an Ottawa prison, Barber claimed his “organizing days are over.”
Vaccines have been easily available in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Europe and Israel. However, the U.S. has seen the spread of a huge amount of vaccine disinformation by what can be termed as media, both traditional and social. There is so much of vaccine disinformation available on news channels whose hosts have millions of followers as well as podcasters who also influence millions.
When these influencers on both traditional and social media invite experts who denounce vaccination and tout unscientific cures using drugs like ivermectin and more, then a huge swath of the population gets influenced by this misinformation.
Some people have spread wrong and false information that has led to so many deaths. Many so called “anti-vaxx” heroes went viral on social media for their stance and are hailed by millions for their courage and are praised for leaving jobs that ask for “vaccinated” employees.
Police are starting to make arrests, many protesters who have formed a line in front of police remain @ctvottawa pic.twitter.com/eWhrTZzYo1
– Claudia Cautillo (@ClaudiaCTV) February 18, 2022
Barber is accused with counselling to cause mischief, obstruction, and obstruction counselling, according to attorney Keith Wilson of The Globe and Mail.
According to the Ottawa Citizen, Barber was given bail and released on Friday night after spending the night in the Ottawa Police cellblock.
From what I was able to see walking around downtown this morning, here is the last big rig parked in downtown Ottawa being towed away.
The convoy has officially left the downtown core #cdnpoli #ottnews pic.twitter.com/2aN7SwQ6xl
– Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) February 20, 2022
If Barber’s case goes to trial, the Crown Attorney Office in Ottawa is anticipated to seek a two-year prison sentence for criminal counts include “tormenting” the Canadian capital and inciting other protestors to engage in illegal behavior, according to the Ottawa Citizen, the outlet said.
Due to complications getting crowdfunded money, Barber has been authorized to help other truckers travelling in the same way pay for gas while he returns home.
Moiz Karimjee, the Crown Attorney for Ottawa, claimed the demonstration had had a substantial impact.
Protesters against vaccines whether in Canada or the U.S. or Europe get more coverage from media than vaccine drives and initiatives to stop or decrease the spread of COVID-19. The far right and the fringe elements get a lot of coverage and support as they protest.
The COVID-19 disinformation campaign may not be violent but it is more insidious as it is eating at the heart of democracy which is “of the people, for the people and by the people.” The people in democracies are being influenced by vaccine misinformation that is spread by the far right and fringe elements. People are losing both their lives and livelihoods. Vaccine hesitancy brought by misinformation might just be a weak aspect of democracy, as few experts can fight to prevent it as the ones who are hesitant say that mandates encroach upon personal freedom and the law of the land.
Is Right Wing Media and Video Spreading Misinformation in Canada
