Police moved in to clear and arrest the remaining protesters opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions near a key U.S.-Canadian border bridge early Sunday.
WINDSOR, Ontario — The busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing reopened late Sunday after protests against COVID-19 restrictions closed it for almost a week, while Canadian officials held back from a crackdown on a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa.
The protest in Ottawa, meanwhile, has paralyzed downtown, infuriated residents who are fed up with police inaction and turned up pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who presided at a Cabinet meeting late Sunday. U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Sunday acknowledged the seemingly peaceful resolution to the demonstration, which it said had “widespread damaging impacts” on the “lives and livelihoods of people” on both sides of the border.
The mayor shared a letter from one of the protest's organizers, Tamara Lich, in which she said demonstrators “agree with your request” to focus activities at Parliament Hill. But Lich later denied there was an agreement, saying in a tweet: “No deal has been made. End the mandates, end the passports. That is why we are here.”
“I’m horrified that other veterans would be down there co-opting my flag, co-opting my service,” said Goodwin, who is the CEO of the Veterans Accountability Commission, a nonprofit advocacy group. “It’s a grift. The city was free. We’re 92% vaccinated. We’re ready to support our businesses.” “It just feels like I’m living in a different country, like I’m in the States,” said Shannon Thomas, a 32-year-old teacher. “It just makes me really sad to see all these people waving Canadian flags and acting like patriots when it’s really the most sad and embarrassing thing I’ve ever seen.”
“We are protesting the government taking away our rights,” said Windsor resident Eunice Lucas-Logan. “We want the restrictions removed. We have to wait to find out.” A border blockade that began in Coutts, Alberta, north of Sweet Grass, Montana, on Jan. 29 remained in place as well. Police issued more than 50 traffic tickets Saturday and continued issuing them Sunday, RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canada-US border bridge reopens after Covid-19 protestsThe crossing normally carries 25 percent of all trade between the two countries, and the blockade on the Canadian side had disrupted business in both countries, with automakers forced to shut down several assembly plants.
Read more »
U.S. urges Canada to use federal powers to end bridge blockade protesting Covid restrictionsFor the fourth straight day, scores of truckers taking part in what they dubbed the Freedom Convoy have blocked the Ambassador Bridge connecting Ontario to Detroit.
Read more »
Canada protests sound common COVID refrain: ‘We stand for freedom’The in-your-face protests that have fueled frustrations around the country and world have been aided by publicity and support from far-right and anti-vaccine groups.
Read more »
Covid: Protests in Canada and France, and end of self-isolation a 'step too far'Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Sunday morning.
Read more »
U.S. Exiting ‘Full-Blown Pandemic Phase’ of COVID, Fauci SaysThe U.S. is heading in a positive direction in the pandemic as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decline, said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Read more »