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Ottawa police make weekend arrest ‘slowly’ ahead of protest starting at Dutch embassy Back to video
According to the police, “an uncooperative and numerous group of vehicles tried to enter the urban core, disrupted the usual flow of traffic in various parts of the city and refused to leave.
“As a result, an arrest was made and obstruction and public nuisance charges were filed.”
Events organized by “Freedom Fighters Canada” included a “slow roll” on Highway 417 from rally points such as Kanata, a rally at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on Albert Street and then a march through the streets of the city to the National War Memorial. and Parliament Hill.
Ottawa’s bylaws department reported Saturday that 103 tickets were issued and 12 vehicles were towed to enforce a “vehicle exclusion zone” on the streets surrounding Parliament Hill.
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Officers were on the streets to minimize disruption to residents, businesses and tourists, police said, while observing “convoy movements,” including temporarily closing the 417 Freeway exit ramps to keep the protest vehicles outside the core.
A heavy police presence was visible on Saturday as officers stayed ahead of what police called a “snake march” through the core with road closures for safety.
The effort required “a significant amount of police and municipal resources,” police said, noting that city traffic managers, officers, firefighters, paramedics, Ontario Provincial Police and the ministry transport of the province.
“We discourage the use of vehicles for any form of demonstration or to cause significant disruption to our ability to serve our community,” Ottawa police said.
“We encourage individuals and groups to exercise their Charter rights in a lawful, peaceful manner, taking into account the rights and freedoms of others.”
Also: Echoes of ‘freedom convoy’ as protest supporting Dutch farmers moves from embassy to Parliament Hill war memorial