Protesters opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions withdrew their vehicles from a key U.S.-Canadian border bridge on Saturday, but continued to block access, while other demonstrations erupted in cities across Canada, including the capital, where police said they were waiting for more officers before ending what they called an illegal occupation.
The tense standoff at the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, was eased slightly early in the day when activists agreed to relocate the vehicles that had been deployed to block the entrance to the key international bridge.
However, protestors regrouped nearby – this time with reinforcements — and were still blocking entrance from the Canadian side late Saturday, causing traffic and commerce to be snarled for the sixth day.
The number of protesters in Ottawa grew to 4,000, according to police. On previous weekends, the city witnessed this, with loud music playing as people wandered around downtown, where anti-vaccine protesters have been camping since late January.
The protests at the bridge, in Ottawa, and elsewhere have echoed across the world, with similar convoys taking place in France, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, and the US Department of Homeland Security has warned that truck convoys might be planned in the US.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Cabinet minister took the uncommon step of criticising her former federal colleagues, as well as the province and municipalities, for failing to put an end to the protests.
“Amazingly, this isn’t just Ottawa. It’s the nation’s capital,” Catherine McKenna tweeted. “But no one — not the city, the province or the federal government can seem to get their act together to end this illegal occupation. It’s appalling. ... Just get your act together. Now.”
Trudeau has referred to the protestors as a "fringe" of Canadian culture, and both federal and provincial officials have stated that they have no authority to direct police actions.
“Safety concerns — arising from aggressive, illegal behaviour by many protestors — limited police enforcement capabilities,” Ottawa police said in a statement late Saturday.
The Ottawa Police Service announced the establishment of a combined command centre with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Police had previously issued a statement describing the protest as an "illegal occupation" and stating that they were awaiting "reinforcements" before undertaking a plan to put an end to the protests.
Last Monday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency for the city, as hundreds of vehicles remained parked in front of Parliament Buildings and activists put up portable toilets outside the prime minister's office, where Trudeau's motorcade usually stops.
Surrounded by dozens of officers in Windsor, a man with “Mandate Freedom” and “Trump 2024” spray-painted on his vehicle left the bridge entrance early in the day as others began dismantling a small, tarp-covered encampment. A trucker honked his horn as he, too, drove off, to cheers and chants of “Freedom!”
Hundreds more gathered to strengthen the crowd and engaged in a two-block-long brawl with police, waving flags and chanting. Despite the absence of any physical conflicts, the throng continued to hold the road leading to the bridge, and traffic had not resumed as of evening.
Windsor police tweeted that no one had been arrested but urged people to stay away from the bridge: “We appreciate the cooperation of the protestors at this time and we will continue to focus on resolving the demonstration peacefully. Avoid area!”
Shortly before police arrived, protester Daniel Koss stated that the demonstration had succeeded in drawing attention to requests to lift COVID-19 mandates, and that he was pleased that it had remained peaceful.
“It’s a win-win,” Koss said. “The pandemic is rolling down right now, they can remove the mandates, all the mandates, and everyone’s happy. The government does the right thing, and the protesters are all happy.”
A judge ordered the blockade of mostly pickup trucks and cars to end the day before, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency, imposing fines of $100,000 Canadian dollars and up to a year in prison on anyone who illegally blocks roads, bridges, walkways, and other critical infrastructure.
“The illegal blockades are impacting trade, supply chains & manufacturing. They’re hurting Canadian families, workers & businesses. Glad to see the Windsor Police & its policing partners commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge,” Federal Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tweeted Saturday. “These blockades must stop.”
The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest crossing between the United States and Canada, carrying 25% of all traffic between the two nations, and auto factories on both sides have been forced to shut down or restrict production this week. The confrontation occurred at a time when the sector is already struggling to maintain output because to pandemic-related computer chip shortages and other supply-chain bottlenecks.
Stephanie Ravensbergen, 31, of Ottawa, said she came out to support her aunt and uncle, who had been parking their lorry in the streets since the demonstration began. She opposes vaccine and mask mandates, arguing that pupils need to be able to see their classmates' faces and emotions.
“We want the right to choose,” Ravensbergen said. “We want the right to be able to do what everybody else can do.”
After protestors urinated on a fence encircling the capital's National War Memorial two weeks ago, protesters tore it down on Saturday. Some later chanted “liberte,” French for “freedom.”
“Completely unacceptable,” Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s veterans affairs minister, tweeted. “This behaviour is disappointing and I’m calling on protesters to respect our monuments.”
Protesters delayed operations at another border crossing between Surrey, British Columbia, and Blaine, Washington, on the opposite side of the country, but officials reported it was not stopped. Two other border crossings, in Alberta and Manitoba, were also closed.
Many of Canada's public health measures, such as mask requirements and vaccine passports for going into restaurants and theatres, are already falling away as the omicron surge levels off, while protestors’ rail about vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions.
Although pandemic limitations in Canada are significantly harsher than in the United States, Canadians have mostly backed them. The vast majority of Canadians are vaccinated, and the COVID-19 fatality rate in Canada is one-third that of the US.
Protests against pandemic restrictions were witnessed in areas of Europe on Saturday, inspired by the Canadian demonstrations.
Several convoys of at least 500 automobiles attempted to reach Paris via major thoroughfares, but were stopped by police. Over 200 automobiles were issued citations, and at least two people were held in a central square after knives, hammers, and other items were seized.
Police used tear gas on a small group of individuals who were defying a police order by protesting on the Champs Elysees Avenue. As police fought to keep the mob under control, an Associated Press photographer was hit in the head with a gas canister.
Meanwhile, scores of trucks and other vehicles arrived in The Hague, blocking one access to the old parliamentary complex, ranging from tractors to a van pulling a camper. On foot, protesters joined them, carrying a banner that read "Love & Freedom, No Dictatorship" in Dutch.
Protesters in New Zealand rolled up to Parliament grounds in a caravan of cars and trucks earlier this week and set up camp. After earlier attempts to remove them resulted in physical clashes, police have taken a hands-off attitude.
Speaker of Parliament Trevor Mallard ordered his staff to irritate them by turning on the lawn sprinklers and playing Barry Manilow songs and the 1990s hit "Macarena" over loudspeakers. Protesters responded by performing their own songs, including "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister.