Canadian police start arresting protesters in Ottawa

[Chomsky]

Canadian police clear Parliament street, arrest dozens of protesters in bid to end siege

The street in front of Parliament Hill, the collection of government offices that includes the Parliament buildings, was the heart of the protests.

www.nbcnews.com

OTTAWA, Ontario — Police began arresting protesters Friday in a bid to break the three-week siege of Canada’s capital by truckers angry over the country’s Covid-19 restrictions.

Some protesters surrendered and were taken into custody, police said. Some were seen being led away in handcuffs.

Ottawa police made it clear on Thursday they were preparing to end the protest and remove the more than 300 trucks, with Ottawa’s interim police chief warning: “Action is imminent.”

With police and the government facing accusations that they let the protests gain strength and spread, Trudeau on Monday invoked Canada’s Emergencies Act, empowering law enforcement authorities to declare the blockades illegal, tow away trucks, arrest the drivers, suspend their licenses and freeze their bank accounts.

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Windsor's been clear for awhile, and now it looks like Ottawa will soon be.

I think one of the more interesting social-psychological aspects of this, is the large number of protest supporters in the interwebs, media, and blogosphere, that proclaimed the Canadian government would be unable to physically remove the 300 trucks in Ottawa, as if the "park-in" was some type of impervious supreme occupying force? What a lack of objective reality!

Anyway, despite some arrests, it looks like an otherwise peaceful ending is occurring, and the occupiers are receiving low-level criminal, non-criminal, and ordinance violations. No idea if the police are letting the vehicles leave, or if they're taking them.

I also might add, these actions come on the heels of arrests of the group's leaders/organizers the previous day.

 

[Chase Morgan]

Johnny Mac's old lady has a message for Ottawa right-wing trucker trash...

 

[Callen]

It is ending as it should, peacefully and without any police violence. If the driver is arrested, the rigs are being towed, other than that they have the choice move on your own you are under arrest. It doesn't appear many are being arrested but the most hard core are still there.

As is truly Canadian, Children's Aid and the Humane Society on site to take care of any children and pets that may need it. Over 100 checkpoints have been established around the area to keep out any weekend warriors.

 

[Chomsky]

It is ending as it should, peacefully and without any police violence. If the driver is arrested, the rigs are being towed, other than that they have the choice move on your own you are under arrest. It doesn't appear many are being arrested but the most hard core are still there.

As is truly Canadian, Children's Aid and the Humane Society on site to take care of any children and pets that may need it. Over 100 checkpoints have been established around the area to keep out any weekend warriors.

Yes, it's a very 'Canadian' ending.

Good work, my good Canucks! You guys are great neighbors!

 

[Callen]

Yes, it's a very 'Canadian' ending.

Good work, my good Canucks! You guys are great neighbors!

Not over yet. The really hardcore truckers are holding on so far. I hope things stay this way....

 

[Chomsky]

Not over yet. The really hardcore truckers are holding on so far. I hope things stay this way....

It would be interesting to see, but my media sources are not carrying it live.

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BTW - I'd like to inquire:

"Is 'Canuck' ever seen as pejorative?"

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For reference, I often refer to myself as a 'Yank', find no offense at all with it, and in fact find it endearing. Is 'Canuck' thought to be the same, among Canadians?

 

[Callen]

BTW - I'd like to inquire:

"Is 'Canuck' ever seen as pejorative?"

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For reference, I often refer to myself as a 'Yank', find no offense at all with it, and find it endearing. Is 'Canuck' thought to be the same, among Canadians?

Yes, it is considered more a term of endearment. Vancouver even named their hockey team the Canuks. When those south of the border want to insult us they call us socialists

 

[Chomsky]

Yes, it is considered more a term of endearment. Vancouver even named their hockey team the Canuks. When those south of the border want to insult us they call us socialists

Ah, great then! Thank you!

And for what it's worth, many south of the 49th call their own, 'Socialists'! Trust me, in that!

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

It would be interesting to see, but my media sources are not carrying it live.

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BTW - I'd like to inquire:

"Is 'Canuck' ever seen as pejorative?"

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For reference, I often refer to myself as a 'Yank', find no offense at all with it, and in fact find it endearing. Is 'Canuck' thought to be the same, among Canadians?

In the late 80s our mens ski team was nicknamed the Crazy Canucks

 

[Chomsky]

In the late 80s our mens ski team was nicknamed the Crazy Canucks

I was not aware, thanks.

I'll also clarify that while 'Yanks' may be seen as a general American identifier by those outside the country, Americans south of the Mason-Dixon may take offense, as the term original referred to the Northeast New England States, but during the Civil war it came to be associated with the Union forces.

Consequently, I don't direct the term to Americans from the South, when conversing with them.