Windsor police begin clearing Ambassador Bridge and warn protesters to ‘act lawfully’ after Freedom Convoy truckers ignored two deadlines overnight and Trudeau had said ‘everything is on the table’

  • Ā Freedom Convoy truckers are still on the Ambassador Bridge at the US-Canada border – in defiance of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s midnight deadline
  • Windsor Police have arrived Saturday morning to commence enforcementĀ 
  • Protesters blocking the busiest land border in North America – the bridge between Detroit and Windsor –Ā  refused to leave, despite a Canadian judge on Friday evening granting an injunction against their presence
  • Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the government wants to see protesters leave voluntarily but steps will be taken to have them removed if they refuse to do soĀ 
  • Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday declared a state of emergency, threatening fines and jailĀ 
  • US group ‘Convoy to Save America’ is launching convoys from Nashville and New York City this weekendĀ 

Police in Windsor, Ontario, began clearing Ambassador Bridge, the busiest border crossing between the U.S. andĀ Canada, on Saturday morning, and warning protesters to ‘act lawfully’ after Freedom Convoy truckers in Canada ignored two deadlines overnight.

Just after 8 a.m., Windsor Police began gathering at Ambassador Bridge where protesters have blocked traffic all week. Police tweeted that they have commenced enforcement and said they ‘urge all demonstrators to act lawfully and peacefully.’

The ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests, which began in Ottawa by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, entered its 16th day on Saturday.

Protests have spread to three border points, including the Ambassador Bridge, North America’s busiest land border crossing where dozens of vehicles have crowded since Monday, choking theĀ supply chainĀ for Detroit’s carmakers.

Despite the injunction andĀ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 7pm-turned-midnight deadline set by an Ottawa state of emergency declaration, the protesters haven’t left.

TrudeauĀ had said that ‘everything is on the table’ to end the protest and Ottawa police were on the scene with threats to forcibly remove the truckers who have been blocking the busy bridge for days. Officers had also handed out flyers warning those refusing to retreat that they risked CA $100,000 fines ($78,000 USD) and the permanent loss of their commercial driving license.

But the big showdown never came on Friday night, as police declined to move in on the hundreds of protestersĀ milling around on the comparatively mild 38 degrees Fahrenheit evening.

A judge on Friday had ordered an end to the Ambassador Bridge blockade, but some 100 protesters continued to occupy the bridge on Saturday with trucks and pick-up vans, preventing the flow of traffic in either direction.

The Ontario government, which declared a state of emergency in the province on Friday, has threatened fines and jail for protesters if they do not leave.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Friday the government wants to see the protesters leave voluntarily but steps will be taken to have them removed if they refuse to do so.

‘Obviously, I’m pleased that the Court granted the injunction as a means to help bring about an end to the illegal occupation of the Ambassador Bridge,’ Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Friday. ‘At the same time, I’m disappointed that it had to come to this.’

‘I remain hopeful for a peaceful and negotiated resolution to the current blockade,’ the mayor said. ‘Local, regional and national law enforcement will collaborate and coordinate how best to respond to this legal ruling and seek to reopen the Ambassador Bridge. No operational details will be disclosed, to ensure the safety and security of all involved.’

He added that the ‘ongoing occupation is endangering the economic health of our region, province and country.’

He also said Friday that he understood many of the protesters feel ‘left behind’ and that there was a lot of ‘healing to do emerging from this public health nightmare.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvv5ypDKVyo&ab_channel=Bryton%27sThoughts