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 resid

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...