Canada: Trudeau denounces truckers’ protests against vaccines | Coronavirus pandemic News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has denounced the “symbols of hatred and division” shown at mass demonstrations in the Ottawa capital by anti-vaccine truckers and their supporters.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trudeau said that although freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are the foundations of democracy, and that Canadians have the right to protest, “hatred can never be the answer.”

“In recent days, Canadians have been shocked and disgusted by the behavior of some people protesting in our nation’s capital,” Trudeau said at a news conference.

“I want to be very clear: we are not afraid of those who insult and abuse small business employees and steal food from the homeless. We will not give up on those who put up racist flags. We will not allow those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans. ”

Participants The so-called “Freedom Convoy” It began arriving in Ottawa across the country on Friday, and thousands of people marched through the city the next day to denounce the coronavirus vaccination order for truckers driving across Canada and the U.S. border.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), a federation of protesting provincial truck associations, said the “vast majority” of Canadian truckers are vaccinated – about 85% – according to the vaccination rates of the general Canadian population.

While some Ottawa protesters have raised complaints about the mandate and broader pandemic policies, experts said last week that well-known far-right activists advocating Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and other hateful views were among the organizers of the event.

Images shared on social media over the weekend showed protesters waving swastika flags, as well as Confederate US flags – Civil rights groups say it is a symbol of white supremacy.

Global News journalist Marc-Andre Cossette also tweeted a photo of a Three Percenters flag, a far right, anti-government militia That Canada appointed last year as a “terrorist” organization, they put it in the trunk of a truck parked near Parliament Hill.

“Anyone who has joined the convoy, all who are visible with the symbols of hate and division that are reasonably uncomfortable: join your Canadian friends, be brave and talk – not defend or with intolerance and hatred,” Trudeau said Monday.

Much more worrying that this protest led by extremists and their supporters among the people. Nazi flag and a Confederate weekend in Ottawa. Three percentages flags, a listed terrorist entity, Hill was a truck parked on top of the salad. pic.twitter.com/XMLz4gINWB

– Marc-André Cossette (@MarcCossette) January 31, 2022

Many Canadians were outraged when protesters parked their vehicles at a monument to a fallen soldier, as well as when a statue of Terry Fox was destroyed, a renowned Canadian athlete who traveled across the country in the 1980s to raise money for cancer research. after cutting off one leg.

Ottawa residents have complained about the constant horn and restrictions on movement in the downtown area, where many protesters parked their vehicles, and others said they were verbally harassed and intimidated.

The Shepherd of Good Hope, a homeless shelter in downtown Ottawa, said a statement On Sunday, local kitchen workers and volunteers were subjected to “verbal harassment and pressure” from protesters seeking meals.

Demonstrators attacked a member of the shelter community, the shelter said, and a security guard who went to the person’s aid “threatened and called for racism.”

Ottawa Citizen journalist Elizabeth Payne, a spokeswoman for the Ottawa Paramedic Service, also mentioned that stones had been thrown at an ambulance and racial violence had been committed against a paramedic from a truck that was part of the protest convoy. “Paramedics working in the middle asked for a police escort because they didn’t feel safe,” he said. he tweeted.

Ottawa residents have been criticized for responding to police protests.

City Councilwoman Catherine McKenney tweeted Monday morning that she had heard of hundreds of residents “who are tired and scared of living in neighborhoods.” He said he would attend a meeting with city and police officials to clarify those concerns.

“And I will say that we need to ask the provincial and federal governments for help. We have been patient but we are disgusted. It’s time to dump her and move on. “

In one statement On Sunday, the Ottawa Police Service said the cost of protesting police was estimated at more than C $ 800,000 ($ 628,000) a day, but “Police have prevented vehicles from picking up their tickets and towing them to avoid clashes with protesters.”

Illegal and disturbing activities continue in our residential neighborhoods. I’ve heard from hundreds of residents who are tired and scared of what they live in their neighborhoods. I am constantly listening to reports of trucks passing through red lights. / 1

– Catherine McKenney (s) (@cmckenney) January 31, 2022

“Police know that many protesters have announced their intention to stay in place. This will continue to create major traffic, noise and safety issues in the city center. We urge all residents to avoid traveling to the core, ”he said.

Even before the protesters arrived in Ottawa, organizers made it clear that their intention was to disrupt the daily life of the Canadian capital. They also said the demonstration went beyond the vaccination order for truck drivers.

“This is no longer about the mandate,” said Jason LaFace, Ontario’s main convoy organizer, who is not a truck driver. reported By the hand of CityNews last week. “This is about Canada, this is about our rights and the government is manipulating and oppressing the population all the time.”

Barbara Perry, Professor at Ontario Tech University and Director of the Center for Hate, Bias and Extremism, he told Al Jazeera last week the convoy gathered “anti-vaxa sentiment, anti-blockade sentiment, anti-government sentiment and then, even beyond that, the far right.” [is] into the game ”.

Demonstrators began arriving in Ottawa on Friday afternoon [Patrick Doyle/Reuters]