Ottawa police arrest seven people and open 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for HATE CRIMES as they seize fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles: Judge issues injunction banning truckers from honking horns in the city center
- Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency Sunday to help deal with an unprecedented 11-day occupation by protesting truckers
- The protest has shut down much of the core of the Canadian capital with around 7,000 protesters out on the streets over the weekend
- Ottawa Police arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations for hate crimes and mischief
- The hate crimes include an individual who urinated on the National War Memorial. One danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Several others carried signs and flags with swastikas
- Police seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles just hours after the mayor declared a state of emergency
- Police issued a warning to the public that they could be subject to charges if they were found to be supplying demonstration trucks in the red zone with fuel
- Ottawa's Police Services Board Chairwoman said situation had spiraled into 'a nationwide insurrection' with protests spreading to Toronto and Quebec City
- 'Freedom Convoy' began as a movement against a Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers
- Turned into a rallying point against public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government
- Organizers of the protest have raised more than $4.4 million in two days on Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo after being denied several million dollars raised on GoFundMe
- A hearing into a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking an injunction to silence the constant honking by truckers will take place on Monday
Police in Ottawa arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for hate crimes and mischief as they seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles Sunday just hours after the mayor declared a state of emergency over 'totally out of control' protests in Canada's capital city.
On Monday, a Canadian court granted a 10-day injunction against the truckers ordering them to stop honking their horns. The class action brought on behalf of Ottawa's inner city residents claims that blasting air horns and train horns 'incessently' was a key tactic of the protesters, 'to cause serious discomfort and inconvenience'.
Ottawa's mayor Jim Watson declared the state of emergency on Sunday as the cross-border truckers continued to converge in the capital city where they blocked streets, shot off fireworks and blared horns, in protest to rules requiring them be fully vaccinated to enter either Canada or the United States.
'The situation at this point is completely out of control,' Mayor Watson said on Sunday. 'The individuals with the protest are calling the shots. They have far more people than we have police officers.'
Ottawa Police Service said in a statement Sunday it had launched over 60 criminal investigations in relation to the ongoing protests, including thefts, hate crimes and property damage. Seven people had been arrested by 9 p.m. Sunday, police said.
Police said they are investigating a number of hate crimes reported at the protests. Some urinated and parked on the National War Memorial. One danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A number carried signs and flags with swastikas.
The anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic acts reported last week prompted police to establish hotline, which has gotten more than 200 calls, according to police.
Police said protesters have 'exhibited extremely disruptive and unlawful behavior,' which has created 'risks to public safety and unacceptable distress' for residents.
'Multiple vehicles and fuel have been seized,' police said in the statement, adding they had issued a warning to the public that they could be subject to charges if they were found to be supplying demonstration trucks in the red zone with fuel.
Police also relocated some protesters and put up fresh barricades, stating they are 'collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration … and other evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions.'
Police in Ottawa arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for hate crimes and mischief as they seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles Sunday just hours after the mayor declared a state of emergency over 'totally out of control' protests in Canada's capital city. Pictured: Truckers on Monday continued their sit-in near the Canadian Parliament after the mayor declared a state of emergency
Police have threatened to arrest anyone who helps provide supplies to the truckers. However, people continue to flock to the site of the sit-in in Ottawa to deliver fuel
The 'Freedom Convoy' truckers are protesting over vaccine mandates and passports which could limit the entry of truckers across the Canada border
People carry fuel cans to the 'Freedom Convoy' despite police threatening to to arrest anyone who helps the truckers
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Police in Ottawa arrested seven people and opened 60 criminal investigations into 'Freedom Convoy' for hate crimes and mischief as they seized fuel and supplies for 1,000 vehicles on Sunday
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'Multiple vehicles and fuel have been seized,' police said in the statement, adding they had issued a warning to the public that they could be subject to charges if they were found to be supplying demonstration trucks in the red zone with fuel
For the second weekend in a row, protesters shot off fireworks, drivers blared their horns and streets remained blocked, as Mayor Watson admitted Sunday that authorities were 'outnumbered' and 'losing this battle' against groups who were 'calling the shots.'
A hearing into a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking an injunction to silence the constant honking by truckers will take place on Monday.
Police said a well-organized supply chain - including portable saunas, a community kitchen and bouncy castles for children - has sustained the protesters. It has relied partly on funding from sympathizers in the United States.
Protests in Ottawa continued into a second week as hundreds of trucks from across the country packed the streets at Parliament Hill in downtown in ongoing demonstrations against Covid mandates
A well-organized supply chain - including a massive amount of supplies (pictured), portable saunas, a community kitchen - has sustained the protesters. It has relied partly on funding from sympathizers in the United States, police said
Supplies brought in for the protesters also include bouncy castles for children as protests continue into the second week
Children are pictured playing hockey in front of the trucks that are blocking streets in downtown Ottawa during the ongoing protests over Covid mandates
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Ottawa Police have issued a warning to the public that they could be subject to charges if they were found to be supplying demonstration trucks in the red zone with fuel
The Freedom Convoy was supposed to end on January 29 but as of February 7 truckers are still dominating the downtown area of Ottawa and Toronto
Crowdfunding site GoFundMe has been accused of bowing to left-wing political pressure by freezing a fundraising account holding $8million in donations for the Freedom Convoy.
After the site said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent U.S. Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained.
But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would be issuing refunds to all.
The site said it cut off funding for the organizers because it had determined the effort violated the site's terms of service due to unlawful activity.
Last week, Facebook removed a page used to organize a convoy to Washington DC 'for repeatedly violating our policies around QAnon,' Meta, the social media platform's parent company, told Fox News.
Organizers of the Freedom Convoy protests have since turned to a Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo where more than $4.4 million has been raised in just two days.
The movement started as a protest against Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers but has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.
Downtown Ottawa, home to Canada's parliament, central bank, and buildings including Trudeau's office, has been largely in lockdown after truckers occupied the streets.
A protester carries the Canadian flag in front of the entrance for the Office of the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Canada on Sunday. The protest against Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers has turned into a rallying point against public health measures and the Prime Minister's government
For the second weekend in a row, protesters shot off fireworks, drivers blared their horns and streets remained blocked, as Mayor Watson admitted Sunday that authorities were 'outnumbered' and 'losing this battle' against groups who were 'calling the shots'
Truckers swarm Parliament Hill in Downtown Ottawa on Sunday, where they continue to protest against the Covid mandates
On Sunday, Mayor Watson said declaring a state of emergency highlighted the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government.
It gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders.
'Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government,' the mayor said in a statement.
Despite the urgency of the declaration, it actually gives little to no extra powers to the mayor - he is unable to move the truckers or get the army in to control the situation.
However, a state of emergency declaration should alert those with more power in government, such as Justin Trudeau to the serious danger of the situation.
Trudeau, who has been in isolation since January 24 when his daughter tested positive for Covid but has since tested positive himself, has been in hiding at an unknown location for several days.
He hasn't publicly spoken out about the truckers since February 2, when he thanked the 'nearly 90 per cent' of truckers who have received their Covid vaccine. It is unclear whether he will do anything to help Ottawa regain control of the Freedom Convoy that is blocking their downtown.
Last week, Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the RCMP had approved Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson's request for Mounties to support city police.
But negotiations with Mounties already in place at the international Alberta blockade have broken down into assaults on officers.
Sympathetic protesters crossed police barricades to join truckers, assaulted officers and even caused a car crash while trying to ram into the Mounties, according to Global News.
The state of emergency announcement came as the city's Police Services Board Chairwoman Diane Deans said the situation had spiraled into 'a nationwide insurrection' with protests spreading from Ottawa to Toronto and Quebec city this weekend.
In footage shot by The4KGuy, Wellington Street outside the Canadian parliament is seen to be completely blocked with trucks lining the length of the street.
People stand in a staging area east of downtown after police raided the truckers' stockpile of fuel, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against coronavirus vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, on Sunday night
Some truckers are seen sitting in a stage area outsider of downtown Ottawa on Sunday night
Video footage shot by The 4K Guy at Parliament Hill in Ottawa shows the trucker convoy completely blocking the road
In audio on the footage shot on Sunday night, horns can be heard blaring constantly as the truckers make their mark
Just blocks away, the area looks relatively peaceful with colored trees lighting up the snow
Wellington Street outside the Canadian parliament is seen blocked by trucks as far as the eye can see in Sunday night video
Police officers walk past parked tractors, as truckers and supporters continue to protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandates, in Ottawa, Ontario, on Sunday
People wave flags on top of a truck in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday
A man halls canisters of fuel in front of Parliament Hill as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa on Sunday
People sign a shack that was being used as a soup kitchen after agreeing to its removal in Ottawa on Sunday
A man sits on top of a camper in front of Parliament Hill as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Ottawa, Ontario on Sunday
Trucks attempting to drive down University Avenue between Bloor Street and Queen's Park are blocked by a police cruiser during the trucker convoy demonstration in Ottawa on Saturday
A person stands beside jerry gas cans, as truckers and supporters continue to protest COVID vaccine mandates, in Ottawa on Sunday
People carry Canadian flags as they walk past a painting depicting a healthcare professional wearing a mask in Ottawa on Saturday
Ottawa Police have announced that anyone supporting the truckers by bringing gasoline could be arrested
During an emergency meeting of the Ottawa Police Services board on Saturday, Chief Peter Sloly said 'we need an additional surge of resources', after the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ruled out deploying troops to the streets.
Meanwhile, an Ottawa resident unable to sleep from the constant honking of horns by Freedom Convoy truckers is suing the protest's organizers.
Zexi Li filed a $9.8million lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court on Friday, seeking damages for 'emotional and mental distress', citing ongoing headaches, sleeping difficulties, difficulty concentrating and interference with quiet enjoyment of her home.
'The Class Members are living in daily torment caused by the incessant blasting of truck horns,' reads the statement of claim.
On Saturday, thousands turned out to support the Freedom Convoy with around 7,000 protesters and 1,000 vehicles coming out onto on the streets of the nation's capital. Ottawa police said there were about 500 vehicles in the city's 'red zone' on Sunday.
Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson has declared a state of emergency to help deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers (file photo)
Police said they had charged four people with hate crimes and were investigating threats against public figures jointly with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The prime minister has said the convoy represented a 'small fringe minority' and the government would not be intimidated. About 90 percent of Canada's cross-border truckers and almost 79 percent of the population has had two COVID-19 vaccine shots.
A senior member of the Liberal government said the ease with which the convoy shut down the area around the parliament and the seeming impotence of police was a 'national humiliation'.
The 'freedom truck convoy' has attracted support from many U.S. Republicans including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Trudeau a 'far left lunatic' who has 'destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates.'
'Canada US relations used to be mainly about solving technical issues. Today Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not just to the US but to all democracies,' Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador under President Barack Obama, tweeted.
Heyman said 'under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop.'
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