Canadian police start arresting protesters in Ottawa

Feb 18, 2022 7:52 AM

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Authorities in Canada are beginning to arrest protesters who have paralyzed traffic in Ottawa for three weeks in a demonstration against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. Police in Ottawa say some protesters are surrendering and being arrested downtown Friday morning. One person being led away was carrying a sign that says “Mandate Freedom.” Police already arrested two of the protest’s leaders late Thursday and have sealed off much of the downtown area to outsiders. The protesters in the capital make up the movement’s last stronghold after weeks of demonstrations and blockades that shutdown border crossings into the U.S. and caused immense economic harm.

Truckers hold their ground despite threats of crackdown – from AP as of Feb 17, 2022 3:40 PM

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Hundreds of truckers clogging the streets of Canada’s capital city in a protest against COVID-19 restrictions aren’t budging and bracing for what could be a possible police crackdown. The nearly three-week faceoff in Ottawa seems to be escalating as busloads of officers arrived Thursday near Parliament Hill. The city’s interim police chief says action is imminent. Protesters have besieged Ottawa for nearly three weeks in a demonstration that shaken Canada’s reputation for civility and rule-following. Work crews also started erecting fences outside Parliament, and police are handing out warnings. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it’s time for the illegal activities to stop.