8 ms·

I was a resident of downtown Ottawa during this period. It was bad. We had a young kid and didn't feel even safe walking her to a park, because the route crosse

I was a resident of downtown Ottawa during this period. It was bad. We had a young kid and didn't feel even safe walking her to a park, because the route crossed over convoy lines and there were all sorts of stories of harassment and assaults. We didn't even experience the worst of it; lots of people dealt with truck horns blaring 24/7, but at least our street at least was kept clear as an emergency route. We put up with the occupation for about two weeks, but we saw a steady escalation and decided to leave town. We stayed with family for two weeks until the convoy was cleared. I'm very proud of the residents who were brave enough to put up a resistance (the so-called "Battle of Billings Bridge"), and I'm appalled by the response by the local police and the province. I absolutely believe the federal government made the correct choice, and this was proven out in the public hearing after the fact on the use of the Emergency Act.

tsunamifury 2y ago
Its interesting how as of late the working-class's totally self-sabatoging ways of protesting almost universally piss off their fellow men and women, rather than taking their grievances to the powers that support them.
- AlexandrB 2y ago
  All of the protests I see lately, besides strikes, are college students. Which working class protests are you thinking of?
  - tsunamifury 2y ago
    basic hotel strikes around SF are focused on bullying customers
  - carlosjobim 2y ago
    There's been massive popular protests in France, Germany and Great Britain in the past few years. Maybe in more countries? But they don't always get media coverage. One that you should have heard of is the yellow vest protests in France.
    - xwolfi 2y ago
      Im French, my anecdotal opinion is the same as the Canadian parent comment: they block and destroy, propose nothing realistic and end up pissing everyone off. I vote Macron as a result.
- drekipus 2y ago
  no one cares about how the food arrives to their plate, only that it's there.
- rixed 2y ago
  Aren't that the only forms of protest that are allowed? If I remember properly, offering the service for free (for instance in public transport) bear the risk of being held personally responsible of any damage or accident that would happen to anyone (which is not unlikely if you factor in provocations)
rXoX 2y ago
[dead]
blowsand 2y ago
Not sure which town got the prominent coverage, but here in America a lot of the coverage we saw looked like a peaceful presence, organized to allow emergency passage, and frequently we saw what looked like a fair - lots of families strolling through, eating food, adults and kids dancing, buying random things from vendors. We saw interviews with drivers who told their stories and said they were there to peacefully protest, as was their right. It’s one of the reasons, I think, that the actions by Trudeau seemed so disproportionate.
- catgary 2y ago
  The convoy was largely funded by right wing American groups, so it’s not surprising they received favourable media coverage.
- tw04 2y ago
  On what? Fox News? Because that wasn’t at all how it was portrayed by Klepper who actually took the time to be onsite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbmiKG56zuw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbmiKG56zuw
  - bavell 2y ago
    Here's [0] a muuuuch more balanced overview of the situation, the day after the ambassador bridge was opened. [0] https://youtu.be/f7YIpSWqT0s?si=0DdPECPkBcU1AKKj https://youtu.be/f7YIpSWqT0s?si=0DdPECPkBcU1AKKj
- mlekoszek 2y ago
  A lot of the family-friendly stuff was specifically for the cameras. A few things I can speak to: * It definitely wasn't peaceful -- activists and Ottawa residents documented numerous incidents of violence, harassment, threats, vandalism, and so on in Ottawa. This document compiles some of it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13-Zg8yjEPYyybbLy70njbWxGeYELQ3Q3PT2Vph0XKQM/edit?tab=t.0 https://docs.google.com/document/d/13-Zg8yjEPYyybbLy70njbWxG... * Organizers encouraged participants to bring more children when it became clear police action was imminent, presumably to complicate law enforcement efforts. A Facebook post even suggested adding bouncy castles to "contribute to the fun" during these escalations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/17/freedom-convoy-children-ottawa-protest/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIf%20you%20are%20heading%20up%20to%20Ottawa%20%E2%80%A6%20bring%20bouncy%20castles%20or%20bubble%20soccer%20bumpers%2C%20consider%20contributing%20to%20the%20fun!%E2%80%9D%20a%20Facebook%20page%20associated%20with%20Freedom%20Convoy%202022%2C%20one%20of%20the%20organizing%20bodies%2C%20posted%20Thursday%2C%20as%20police%20warned%20action%20to%20clear%20the%20protests%20was%20%E2%80%9Cimminent.%E2%80%9D https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/17/freedom-conv... * In the case of Ambassador Bridge, some reportedly put their children in front of the police. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/convoy-protests-total-arrests-in-ottawa-reaches-170-key-organizers-appear-in-court-media-swarmed/article_6a9f06c0-c822-5a4a-9bc6-3789f2bef036.html#:~:text=we%20are%20seeing%20young%20children%20being%20brought%20to%20the%20front%20of%20the%20police%20operation.%20this%20is%20dangerous%20and%20it%20is%20putting%20the%20children%20at%20risk.%20children%20may%20be%20taken%20to%20a%20place%20of%20safet https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/convoy-protests-total-ar... * There’s academic discussion suggesting that children and family-friendly elements were intentionally brought in for PR and to slow the police response. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cag.12909?af=R https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cag.12909?af=R * Despite claims of peaceful protest, there were reports of ambulances being blocked or even pelted with rocks. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-with-rocks-during-protest-health-workers-patients-face-added-stress-delays https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-... * This is without getting into the hate speech. https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/CHPC/Brief/BR11747935/br-external/SarahAndChaimNeubergerHolocaustEducationCentre-e.pdf https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/CHPC/Brief/B...
joemazerino 2y ago
Stories of harassment and assaults? Provide one source for any assault.
- mlekoszek 2y ago
  Glad you asked. * Pushing a reporter live on air: https://x.com/mylenecrete/status/1494874304814751744 https://x.com/mylenecrete/status/1494874304814751744 * Beating a counter-protestor on camera: https://x.com/timabray/status/1488231660260839430?t=Bx4fGVxRjSHLP3-eqIxEuA https://x.com/timabray/status/1488231660260839430?t=Bx4fGVxR... * Attacking a shop employee for masking up on their way to work: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2300663853407055&id=534574540016004 https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=23006638534070... * Smashing windows of a business with a Pride flag: https://imgur.com/a/80bmPQ8 https://imgur.com/a/80bmPQ8 * Trying to handcuff shut the doors of an apartment building: https://x.com/gray_mackenzie/status/1492705868697198593 https://x.com/gray_mackenzie/status/1492705868697198593 * Encouraging harassment of the lawyer leading the class action lawsuit against them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/217129079397701/permalink/622275355549736/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/217129079397701/permalink/62... * Threatening public officials: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=73848b16-7644-4e56-95c0-767136eff481 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=7... * Spamming emergency services so they could not be used: https://x.com/OttawaPolice/status/1491788988654383115 https://x.com/OttawaPolice/status/1491788988654383115 * Harassing children at an elementary school: https://pressprogress.ca/elementary-school-students-and-teachers-dealing-with-harassment-as-far-right-convoy-occupies-ottawa/ https://pressprogress.ca/elementary-school-students-and-teac... * Bomb threats against a children's hospital: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/cheo-targeted-by-bomb-threat-monday-1.5792102 https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/cheo-targeted-by-bomb-threat-monda... * Pelting ambulances with rocks: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-with-rocks-during-protest-health-workers-patients-face-added-stress-delays https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-... These are just the things that were recorded, reported on, and archived with the links functioning three years later. Scroll up and you can read about what many of us saw in person. And yes, there's more where that came from. But it's much better to read from people who live in Ottawa and want to share their experiences: https://www.opc-cpo.ca/ https://www.opc-cpo.ca/

tsunamifury 2y ago

Its interesting how as of late the working-class's totally self-sabatoging ways of protesting almost universally piss off their fellow men and women, rather than taking their grievances to the powers that support them.

AlexandrB 2y ago
All of the protests I see lately, besides strikes, are college students. Which working class protests are you thinking of?
- tsunamifury 2y ago
  basic hotel strikes around SF are focused on bullying customers
- carlosjobim 2y ago
  There's been massive popular protests in France, Germany and Great Britain in the past few years. Maybe in more countries? But they don't always get media coverage. One that you should have heard of is the yellow vest protests in France.
  - xwolfi 2y ago
    Im French, my anecdotal opinion is the same as the Canadian parent comment: they block and destroy, propose nothing realistic and end up pissing everyone off. I vote Macron as a result.
drekipus 2y ago
no one cares about how the food arrives to their plate, only that it's there.
rixed 2y ago
Aren't that the only forms of protest that are allowed? If I remember properly, offering the service for free (for instance in public transport) bear the risk of being held personally responsible of any damage or accident that would happen to anyone (which is not unlikely if you factor in provocations)

rXoX 2y ago

[dead]

blowsand 2y ago

Not sure which town got the prominent coverage, but here in America a lot of the coverage we saw looked like a peaceful presence, organized to allow emergency passage, and frequently we saw what looked like a fair - lots of families strolling through, eating food, adults and kids dancing, buying random things from vendors. We saw interviews with drivers who told their stories and said they were there to peacefully protest, as was their right. It’s one of the reasons, I think, that the actions by Trudeau seemed so disproportionate.

catgary 2y ago
The convoy was largely funded by right wing American groups, so it’s not surprising they received favourable media coverage.
tw04 2y ago
On what? Fox News? Because that wasn’t at all how it was portrayed by Klepper who actually took the time to be onsite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbmiKG56zuw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbmiKG56zuw
- bavell 2y ago
  Here's [0] a muuuuch more balanced overview of the situation, the day after the ambassador bridge was opened. [0] https://youtu.be/f7YIpSWqT0s?si=0DdPECPkBcU1AKKj https://youtu.be/f7YIpSWqT0s?si=0DdPECPkBcU1AKKj
mlekoszek 2y ago
A lot of the family-friendly stuff was specifically for the cameras. A few things I can speak to: * It definitely wasn't peaceful -- activists and Ottawa residents documented numerous incidents of violence, harassment, threats, vandalism, and so on in Ottawa. This document compiles some of it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13-Zg8yjEPYyybbLy70njbWxGeYELQ3Q3PT2Vph0XKQM/edit?tab=t.0 https://docs.google.com/document/d/13-Zg8yjEPYyybbLy70njbWxG... * Organizers encouraged participants to bring more children when it became clear police action was imminent, presumably to complicate law enforcement efforts. A Facebook post even suggested adding bouncy castles to "contribute to the fun" during these escalations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/17/freedom-convoy-children-ottawa-protest/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIf%20you%20are%20heading%20up%20to%20Ottawa%20%E2%80%A6%20bring%20bouncy%20castles%20or%20bubble%20soccer%20bumpers%2C%20consider%20contributing%20to%20the%20fun!%E2%80%9D%20a%20Facebook%20page%20associated%20with%20Freedom%20Convoy%202022%2C%20one%20of%20the%20organizing%20bodies%2C%20posted%20Thursday%2C%20as%20police%20warned%20action%20to%20clear%20the%20protests%20was%20%E2%80%9Cimminent.%E2%80%9D https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/17/freedom-conv... * In the case of Ambassador Bridge, some reportedly put their children in front of the police. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/convoy-protests-total-arrests-in-ottawa-reaches-170-key-organizers-appear-in-court-media-swarmed/article_6a9f06c0-c822-5a4a-9bc6-3789f2bef036.html#:~:text=we%20are%20seeing%20young%20children%20being%20brought%20to%20the%20front%20of%20the%20police%20operation.%20this%20is%20dangerous%20and%20it%20is%20putting%20the%20children%20at%20risk.%20children%20may%20be%20taken%20to%20a%20place%20of%20safet https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/convoy-protests-total-ar... * There’s academic discussion suggesting that children and family-friendly elements were intentionally brought in for PR and to slow the police response. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cag.12909?af=R https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cag.12909?af=R * Despite claims of peaceful protest, there were reports of ambulances being blocked or even pelted with rocks. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-with-rocks-during-protest-health-workers-patients-face-added-stress-delays https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-... * This is without getting into the hate speech. https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/CHPC/Brief/BR11747935/br-external/SarahAndChaimNeubergerHolocaustEducationCentre-e.pdf https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/CHPC/Brief/B...

joemazerino 2y ago

Stories of harassment and assaults? Provide one source for any assault.

mlekoszek 2y ago
Glad you asked. * Pushing a reporter live on air: https://x.com/mylenecrete/status/1494874304814751744 https://x.com/mylenecrete/status/1494874304814751744 * Beating a counter-protestor on camera: https://x.com/timabray/status/1488231660260839430?t=Bx4fGVxRjSHLP3-eqIxEuA https://x.com/timabray/status/1488231660260839430?t=Bx4fGVxR... * Attacking a shop employee for masking up on their way to work: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2300663853407055&id=534574540016004 https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=23006638534070... * Smashing windows of a business with a Pride flag: https://imgur.com/a/80bmPQ8 https://imgur.com/a/80bmPQ8 * Trying to handcuff shut the doors of an apartment building: https://x.com/gray_mackenzie/status/1492705868697198593 https://x.com/gray_mackenzie/status/1492705868697198593 * Encouraging harassment of the lawyer leading the class action lawsuit against them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/217129079397701/permalink/622275355549736/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/217129079397701/permalink/62... * Threatening public officials: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=73848b16-7644-4e56-95c0-767136eff481 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/Modules/News/index.aspx?newsId=7... * Spamming emergency services so they could not be used: https://x.com/OttawaPolice/status/1491788988654383115 https://x.com/OttawaPolice/status/1491788988654383115 * Harassing children at an elementary school: https://pressprogress.ca/elementary-school-students-and-teachers-dealing-with-harassment-as-far-right-convoy-occupies-ottawa/ https://pressprogress.ca/elementary-school-students-and-teac... * Bomb threats against a children's hospital: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/cheo-targeted-by-bomb-threat-monday-1.5792102 https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/cheo-targeted-by-bomb-threat-monda... * Pelting ambulances with rocks: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-with-rocks-during-protest-health-workers-patients-face-added-stress-delays https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ambulances-pelted-... These are just the things that were recorded, reported on, and archived with the links functioning three years later. Scroll up and you can read about what many of us saw in person. And yes, there's more where that came from. But it's much better to read from people who live in Ottawa and want to share their experiences: https://www.opc-cpo.ca/ https://www.opc-cpo.ca/