Anti-Vaccine Mandate Protesters Are Still Controlling Downtown Ottawa, And Residents Have Reached Th

[RandySF]

OTTAWA — Residents here took to the streets Sunday to physically block the movement of the “Freedom Convoy” protesters that have overrun the city for more than two weeks.

This public backlash is sparked in part by reports of concerts, hot tubs, and bouncy castles in the downtown core occupied by anti-vaccine mandate protesters. One group of residents crowded the street to blockade a convoy of around 20 cars and pickup trucks in southern Ottawa, holding it up for several hours.

“The straw broke last night. The patience of our various communities broke,” said Joel Harden, the provincial representative for Ottawa Centre. He said the anti-protest blockade came together on community Facebook groups usually dedicated to organizing cookouts, dog walking, and kid meetups.

“I hope the convoy knows they’re not welcome in our city anymore. They made their point, it’s time to go,” he said.

The convoy had been planning to drive along the Rideau River before meeting up with the larger protest site downtown. There was some discussion and arguing as their path was blocked, but mostly the two sides kept to themselves. Resident groups also popped up in downtown streets to physically block thoroughfares leading to the protest zone. They say that businesses are suffering and people who are just trying to go about their daily lives are being harassed.

“Ottawans are just fed up. We’re done. I’ll tell you, something popped yesterday,” said Micah Clark, who has lived in Ottawa for 16 years. “We’re just trying to live our lives, and our city’s been turned into a punching bag by a bunch of people who didn’t do real well in civics class.”





https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/anti-vaccine-mandate-protest-ottawa-residents?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc