Police in Ottawa are warning that any protesters blocking streets for the self-described “Freedom Convoy” may be “arrested without a warrant,” as raucous protests against vaccine mandates and coronavirus restrictions continue with no end in sight.
The protests, which have led to at least 23 arrests and 80 criminal investigations in the capital, are now sparking vigorous debate among officials over how best to de-escalate the situation there and at U.S.-Canada border crossings, where blockades have disrupted the flow of goods and people.
Some are warning that mass arrests could prove counterproductive or even lead to violence. “It is a criminal offense to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property,” Ottawa police said in a news release issued Wednesday, telling protesters: “You must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you may face charges.”
Police said those found to be taking part in criminal activity – which could include blocking streets or “assisting others in the blocking of streets” – could be arrested. Police are also giving notice that vehicles could be seized and possibly forfeited if people are convicted.
The warning comes as law enforcement officials are under pressure to use tougher measures to disperse demonstrations, including those that continue to clog traffic arteries between the United States and Canada. So far, two major ports of entry – the Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, and the Coutts crossing linking Montana to Alberta – have been closed or partially blocked.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been widely targeted by protesters denouncing his response to the pandemic, called the obstruction of border crossings an economic crisis, tweeting that the blockades in Windsor and the capital, Ottawa, where a state of emergency was declared over the weekend, “must stop” – but didn’t elaborate on how this could be achieved.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that the protest in Ottawa “has to stop,” saying that the protesters “don’t have the right to blockade our economy, or our democracy, or our fellow citizens’ daily lives.” Other protests have surfaced globally, including in Australia and New Zealand. Police in Paris recently have banned protesters from entering the city. U.S. authorities on Wednesday warned of kindred protests that could begin in California as soon as Super Bowl Sunday.
