Youre Thundering Down the Track Again Like a Locomotive Hauling 90 Thousand

The convoy of Canadian truckers and supporters undertook a cross-land journeying to Ottawa to protest over Covid restrictions

After a week-long drive from British Columbia province, a group of Canadian long-haul truck drivers – dubbed the 'Liberty Convoy' – made its way across the country to Ottawa, the national capital in the eastern province of Ontario on Saturday. The big rigs at present dominate the national upper-case letter, casting a long shadow over political discourse both in the state and beyond. Thousands of truckers, and supporters, go on to protestation against the federal government's vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 policies – under the glare of law enforcement officials and the national media spotlight. Hither'south what nosotros know so far.

one. Then, what kicked off the 'Freedom Convoy' exactly?

Until mid-January, cantankerous-edge truck drivers in Canada were exempt from vaccine requirements – meaning they could bulldoze to the US and dorsum without needing to bear witness vaccination status. After the government instituted a mandate that imposed a quarantine on unvaccinated drivers, a band of truckers in western Canada organized a cross-country drive to protestation in Ottawa.

The movement gathered momentum and public support as it traveled due east. It besides garnered the backing of those who are opposed to Prime Government minister Justin Trudeau'south Liberal government and that of anti-vaccine mandate groups frustrated with pandemic restrictions that they view as "political overreach." According to a statement past organizers, the convoy demands that federal and provincial governments close down vaccine passports and all other "obligatory vaccine contact-tracing programs," and "terminate Covid-nineteen vaccine mandates."

2. Are there really thousands of trucks on the road?

In its statement on Wednesday, the organizers said that "although our initial convoy [was] estimated to be ane,600 trucks, that number significantly increased to 36,000 trucks in just a few days. It is now estimated that the number of heavy trucks heading to Ottawa is closer to 50,000." Nevertheless, national media outlets and law enforcement bodies have reported anywhere from "hundreds" of trucks to figures in the low thousands over the by week. Some calculations accept also accounted for cars and SUVs that have likewise apparently latched onto the convoy. The existent effigy likely lies somewhere in between – with the Canadian Trucking Alliance having estimated that the vaccine mandate would bear upon some 16,000 drivers since it claimed that between 85-90% of the country's 120,000 cross-border truckers have been jabbed.

3. Practice the truckers have popular support?

Over the by calendar week, videos on social media platforms and news footage have shown trucks and other vehicles chugging along highways and urban center streets, cheered on by crowds of people gathered on the roadsides and overpasses. Large groups of people have also been waving Canadian flags and holding upwardly signs that take aim at both Trudeau and his policies. The organizers have claimed to "take the support of millions of Canadians from across the country."  While government accept not released figures about the number of people who arrived in Ottawa, local police force sources told media outlets that the crowds in the capital'southward Downtown area and Parliament Hill were similar to those seen during large gatherings on major public holidays – typically running into the tens of thousands. Reports in Canadian media have too highlighted crowds gathering for local rallies being held at various places in support of the Freedom Convoy. Another metric that hinted at the movement'southward wider popularity is a GoFundMe campaign that has seen Tin can$ 8.6 meg (US$ 6.7 million) raised from over 108,000 people over the past week.

Even so, the truckers' demonstration has as well prompted criticism from those who consider its participants to be "far-right" and spreading "disinformation." Ottawa police force have told the media they were preparing for counter-protests and that they have received a "direct threat" aimed at officers from an unspecified individual. Officials accept also been warning some "extremist" groups might endeavor to capitalize on the mass protest, with the New Democratic Party leader going equally far every bit saying that some "elements" were "attempting to plow the convoy into a Canadian version of the terrorist attacks on the The states Capitol."

four. How long will the truckers' protest concluding?

According to a running clock on the group's official webpage, the "Countdown to Liberty" ends in less than a twenty-four hour period, as of the time of writing. The most contempo updates about their itinerary for Sunday bear witness a prayer service for 11am (Eastern Standard Time) and a press briefing at 1pm, where additional details may exist announced. The protesters had planned to encamp in Ottawa for at to the lowest degree the weekend, but police sources take suggested that the rally could potentially continue into the side by side calendar week.

5. Has the 'Freedom Convoy' protest in Ottawa been peaceful?

The city's police force has reportedly been augmented by officers from other parts of the province as well as members of the national security and intelligence community to stop potential unrest. Ottawa Constabulary Chief Peter Sloly had described the situation on Fri equally "unique, fluid, risky, and pregnant" and warned of threats from "lonely wolf" actors who may accept infiltrated the crowds. He also warned of "social media actors" who are "inciting hate, violence, and in some cases, criminality to take place."

Withal, no violence, arrests or injuries take been reported past authorities so far and the convoy organizers have said the "movement is a peaceful protest" and does "non condone any acts of violence." In a argument on Fri, the Liberty Convoy organizers had urged participants to "treat all law officers with respect" and "not make any type of threat."

6. Where is Justin Trudeau in all of this?

Prime number Minister Trudeau and his family were manifestly shifted to an "undisclosed location" in Ottawa on Sat due to security concerns. Several trucks in the convoy displayed slogans and signs such every bit "F**thou Trudeau," with protesters apparently using as a rallying cry his earlier dismissal of the move equally the voices of a "fringe minority" that harbored "unacceptable views." Some have reportedly called for Trudeau to be charged with treason or beaten up. In one of his final interviews prior to beingness moved, Trudeau expressed concern on Fri about the potential for violence – claiming the movement has "morphed into something a lot larger" just was even so "a very small, very angry group... who are actually trying to lash out."

vii. What are people outside Canada maxim about the truckers' protest?

The unusual scale and telescopic of the protest has captured public attention outside the state. Onetime US President Donald Trump praised the convoy participants at a rally in Texas on Saturday, noting that they were "doing more than to defend American liberty than our own leaders by far." Other prominent individuals that have spoken in support include Tesla CEO Elon Musk, podcaster Joe Rogan and comedian Russell Brand. Reactions from some liberal pundits and The states media has been mostly negative, with some opinions linking the protesting truckers to far-correct groups, white supremacist ideologies and Covid misinformation. The Washington Mail has published an stance piece calling on Canada to "face the toxic 'Freedom Convoy' head-on," in which columnist David Moscrop described the truckers equally "a fringe group" and claimed they were "driven by a generalized rage, misplaced anger almost supply-chain challenges and antigovernment sentiment."

roushneash1957.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.rt.com/news/547796-freedom-trucker-protest-trudeau/

Share this post