Last minute: Protest actions against the obligation to have two doses of vaccination in Canada are growing. The action of anti-vaccine truck drivers has negatively impacted life in the capital city of Ottawa. According to the CBC report, the Canadian Prime Minister and his family were placed in a secret location due to security concerns.
LAST MINUTE| ANTI VACCINE PROTEST IN CANADA! COUNTRY IN ALARM
The protest action launched by thousands of anti-vaccine truck drivers from all over the country to the capital on January 23 blocked traffic on inter-city and inner-city roads, and all security units were alarmed.
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU TRANSFERRED TO A SECRET PLACE
Canadian security forces took Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family from their home in Ottawa to a secret location due to growing security concerns, CBC reported.
In addition to the drivers who participated in the demonstration with their trucks, thousands of people who supported them gathered in front of the federal parliament building in Ottawa.
Despite the extreme cold that dropped to minus 35 degrees in Ottawa, the protesters from the surrounding cities continue to participate in the parliamentary zone as of Friday night.
NUMBER EXCEEDED 10 THOUSAND
According to the statements made by the Ottawa police during the day, the number of protesting truck drivers exceeded 2,000, with the participation of the people supporting them, this number exceeded 10 thousand.
Hundreds of additional police were deployed to Ottawa from some cities, especially Toronto, due to the action.
RESPONSE TO TRUDEAU
Trucks gathered along Wellington Street were decorated with banners denouncing public health measures and Prime Minister Trudeau.
Noise pollution was caused by hundreds of truck drivers honking their horns to announce their presence, while some warned that communism would take hold in Canada if restrictions on COVID-19 continued.
ACTION BRINGS DIFFERENT GROUPS TOGETHER
An action originally planned to discourage the federal government from mandating the vaccination of truck drivers has turned into a larger movement against all public health measures.
The group, many of whom are not truck drivers, said they were prepared to pressure the government to end restrictions on the outbreak and return to “normal”.
The large number of flags in the crowd reflected the views of different groups calling for an end to its repressive rule. The majority of protesters waved Canadian flags, while some carried placards that read “Think For Yourself” used in anti-vaccine circles.
Confederate flags, often associated with racist and far-right elements, were seen in the crowd, while local demonstrators waved the Mohawk warrior flag and the Metis Nation’s flag.
CALL “SILENT”
BJ Dicher, one of the organizers of the protest, warned the participants to demonstrate peacefully, “We cannot achieve our goals if there are threats or acts of violence. This movement is a peaceful protest and we do not condone any acts of violence.” said.
Dicher, who warned the protesters not to enter government buildings, not to disrespect the police officers, and not to act in a way that would escalate the tense situation, demanded that threatening expressions should never be used in the rhetoric.