Posted on 02/03/2022 7:52:02 AM PST by billorites
People who live in downtown Ottawa are bracing as a nearly week-long protest against COVID-19 public health mandates looks poised to continue, with the police chief concerned that policing alone may not end the "intolerable" and "unprecedented" demonstration.
The ongoing and volatile protest has spurred residents to make their own stand — at the Ottawa Police Service's headquarters on Elgin Street.
Rhys McGaw, a downtown resident, and others gathered for a second night on Wednesday to object to what they view as inaction by police.
"In my neighbourhood, on my street, down the street, in the stores of Centretown or Lowertown — that's where people are just running amok," McGaw said.
"They're looking for a fight. They're drunk. They're belligerent. They're aggressive."
McGaw said he doesn't want to be harassed for wearing a mask and feels those flouting public health regulations are dangerous for doing so.
City councillors brought the anguish many residents are feeling to police during a Wednesday afternoon briefing.
"I'm sorry for the living hell that you're enduring," said Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans, chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board, to residents.
"We live in the nation's capital. We expect protests and demonstrations, but we don't expect this."
A news release from senior convoy leaders said protesters empathized with local residents, but they plan to remain in Ottawa "for as long as it takes."
Mayor Jim Watson said that acknowledgement "rings hollow," and that residents have been held "hostage in their own homes."
Later on Twitter, he went further by asking Saskatchewan politicians, including former Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer, to apologize for supporting the "illegal action" that's caused hardship to Ottawans. Police considering all options to end protest
Trish Ferguson, acting deputy chief for the police force, said several hundred trucks are still in the city, and the protesters who remain are a highly volatile group.
The crowd is smaller than the thousands estimated on Saturday, but police intelligence suggests numbers are expected to swell this coming weekend.
On Wednesday, Chief Peter Sloly said policing alone might not be enough to end the protest.
"This is a national issue, not an Ottawa issue," Sloly said. "I am increasingly concerned there is no policing solution to this."
Sloly said options being considered include requesting military aid, negotiation, a political response, a court injunction or the forced removal of protesters. But all approaches come with significant concerns, he said, including rioting, injury and death.
"This demonstration has been intolerable, unprecedented. The range of illegal, dangerous and unacceptable activities is beyond the ability to list," he said.
Bringing in the military would come with its own "massive risks," Sloly said. He said he was aware of only two such military interventions in the past hundred years: the Oka Crisis in 1990 and the October Crisis in 1970 that involved attacks by the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ).
"I don't have a singular mandate in this city, this province or this country, to negotiate the end to any demonstration," Sloly said. "There always needs to be an element outside of the police for any truly successful end to any demonstration, particularly one of this size."
Daniel Minden, a spokesperson for the Minister of National Defence, told CBC the Canadian Armed Forces are not currently involved in law enforcement and have no plans to be.
The protest has involved people across the country, as well as from other countries, who are frustrated with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic from all levels of government.
The longer the demonstration persists, the more the risks will increase, said Sloly.
But clearing protesters out comes with its own dangers, he added, and police have neither the "lawful authority" nor the "practical capability" to block access to a city the size of Ottawa.
The chief also referenced similar protests against COVID-19 mandates, including attempts to contain a trucker blockade in southern Alberta.
"What happens here affects there and what happens there affects here," Sloly said. "They were not effective and they created additional ... potentially life-threatening safety issues."
Note that nobody is asking why Trudeau isn’t getting his posterior back from wherever he’s hiding and actually talking to the truckers himself. And that’s the big question.
Sounds like gaslighting to me. Perhaps a bit of projection as well...
Was his speech from Havana with fake snow in the background? I mean it is 70F warmer there LOL.
This article is pure propaganda besides Canadians potentially coming out in masses this weekend. You really need to watch livestreams to have a full understanding why and how people are protesting.
“We live in the nation’s capital. We expect protests and demonstrations, but we don’t expect this.”
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Well, as the saying goes... “Elections have consequences.”
It's only OK when they do it. Two years of it! The tyranny flows from this idiots lips and he has no self-awareness. The same mentality as "Having unacceptable views" from the Bastard-child of Fidel.
It would seem that politicians in Ottawa want to go to war against the people, however, they have no army it would seem.
“Daniel Minden, a spokesperson for the Minister of National Defence, told CBC the Canadian Armed Forces are not currently involved in law enforcement and have no plans to be.”
Ruh Roh eh! It’s like an insurrection or something eh? Or maybe a coup.
time to double down!!!!
“We expect protests and demonstrations”
but they only expect left wing demonstrations.
Because the pro-government Establishment Media in Canada is too scared to ask that very question.
“The range of illegal, dangerous and unacceptable activities is beyond the ability to list,”
So he won’t bother mentioning any of them at all. Very persuasive. And there is a huge gap between “dangerous” and “unacceptable”. You don’t lump them into the same category.
Sounds like the actions of a bunch of jim eagles to me. Dang racis’ canadians eh!?
Attention US congresscritters and all democrats:
This is what you will get if you don’t stop the covidiot nonsense.
The people are tired of it. I know you don’t really consider we, the people, but perhaps you should.
Note that nobody is asking why Trudeau isn’t getting his posterior back from wherever he’s hiding and actually talking to the truckers himself.
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Not quite ‘nobody’..... see what Mad Max says..
https://twitter.com/i/status/1488511687095472138
“We expect protests and demonstrations, but we don’t expect this.”
Yeah. It sucks when the decent people decide they’ve had enough of totalitarian freaks like you.
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