After a weekend marked by some moments of tension between residents, demonstrators and law enforcement, calm returned to Ottawa on Sunday.
By the end of the afternoon, the streets of the city center were empty of demonstrators who had come to protest in the federal capital against health measures still being implemented. Some arteries are still blocked early.
Police were in place to prevent possible overflows and to ensure the demonstration did not become a job, which many feared after the demonstration of trucks in February.
Local traffic also continued on some streets of the exclusion perimeter, built in anticipation of demonstrations.
In the morning, between 100 and 200 demonstrators gathered at 10:30 am at the church Capital City Bikers-Church, not far from downtown, in the Vanier district. No other activities were planned afterwards.
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has opened an investigation into a hate crime incident at Capital City Bikers-Church.
The incident was reported to authorities before 7 a.m. Sunday. On a church wall, we can read There is no refuge for fascistsand in another, fascists.
Ottawa-Vanier MPP Lucille Collard said she was disappointed to see the move. It’s embarrassing because freedom of expression doesn’t have to be aggressivehis sigh. This kind of graffiti, it just ignites more negative emotions, and that’s a shamehe repents.
” In my opinion, this is very isolated. Residents don’t feel that way. “
Si Ms. Collard goes there to take the pulse of the situation. I came to reassure and see if I needed to reassure the residents. There was a lot of concern and apprehension at the incident that took place [samedi] and continueshe explained.
Keep the peace
Authorities made sure they enforced law and order. Ottawa Police and our partners will be going there [au centre-ville] as long as the presence is necessary to maintain peace and security in the cityensured by the acting deputy head of OPS, Patricia Ferguson.
It’s happening according to our plan, he says. We have several options.
Asked about the intentions of the demonstrators to return to their homes, a spokesman for the group. Freedom Fighters Canada, Bethan Nodwellindicated that no other activity was planned, other than mass.
The president of the Association of Downtown Residents Community, Mary Huang, hopes to see protesters leave the scene as planned and not hang out like they did in February.
Some downtown seniors have been held hostage in their homes for three and a half weeks. They are still traumatizeddescribed by Ms. Huang.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said the police department has drawn a hard line to prevent the protest from getting out of control. More than 800 agents were mobilized as reinforcements as needed.
” The plan [de la police] inspires me with great confidence. We have a police service that knows the problems and challenges. “
The message to those responsible for the protest was: remember that Ottawa is not only the seat of government along with Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court, it is also a city with several residential neighborhoods in the middle -cityplease Mr. Watson.
Those responsible for this demonstration must clearly understand that attacking the community of Ottawa citizens is unacceptable.said the mayor of Ottawa.
According to the Ottawa Police Service, 350 motorcyclists took part in the convoy that passed several hundred demonstrators and in the face of a heavy police presence.
Three people were arrested Saturday and seven on Friday night as police said they were facing a crowd. aggressive.
Since Friday morning, municipal officials have issued 761 parking tickets, towed 39 vehicles and issued 10 guilt statements, according to the latest report shared by OPS.
With information from Fiona Collienne, Rosalie Sinclair and The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
