Hello.
I am keeping a running list of everything that's been happening during the protest in Ottawa – now extending to other cities as well and including the dismantling of the convoy in Ottawa. This includes news reports as well as personal accounts from people and businesses. I understand that in the latter case this is not always the best source to have but, given that people are not always able to record things and the large amount of accounts, I will include it anyway. People can chose for themselves if they do or don't believe these individuals and can form their own opinion on the protest. There is no need to tell me what your choice is. I am not responsible for you.
Apologies if I am not able to respond to everyone commenting. I will do my best but I also have work so it is not always easy. I promise that I am still checking everything said and will keep adding recommended things.
Stay safe everyone.
Some protestors disrespecting national monuments
Parking on the war memorial, dancing on the tomb of the unknown soldier, and peeing on the national war memorial.
Feb 12, Protesters tear down fencing around the National War Memorial . Statement by the Royal Canadian Legion refers to this as "deeply disturbing".
Now that the fence is down there is garbage, Tim Hortons donut boxes and hand warms, within a stones throw of the tomb of the unknown solider. Video
A tent has also been set up at the war memorial.
Some protestors exhibiting racist, homophobic, and transphobic behaviour
Defecating on the front steps of a couple's home after yelling at them for flying a rainbow flag in their window.
Protestors holding transphobic signs
Extorting soup kitchens and assaulting a member of the sgh shelter community. Racist slurs were also thrown at a security guard who tried to stop them. Racial slurs were also hurled at a paramedic from a truck that was part of the convoy, after rocks were thrown at an Ottawa ambulance.
Comparing being unvaccinated to racial segregation.
Protestors pretending to be indigenous people and chanting yelling yaba daba doo.
Flag of the Three percenters, a listed terrorist entity, draped over the hood of a truck parked by the Hill. Protestor with the flag of the Canadian nationalist party. SS sign outside parliament.
Multiple sightings of swastika and confederate flags: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Additional footage of the flags on city news
Star of David pins being sold at the protest – because it apparently needs to be explained, the issue is the comparison of being unvaccinated to the holocaust, not that there is anything wrong with the star of David in general
Ottawa police have now set up a hate crime hotline after reports of assaults and threats. There have been over 150 calls so far.
Truck convoy members try to hijack symbol and slogan of residential school survivors. Statement of the Assembly of First Nations National Chief.
Indigenous Leaders Are Condemning the ‘Freedom Convoy’ for ‘Hateful, Racist’ Conduct
Impact on Ottawa businesses and residents
The Rideau centre had to close due to safety issues and the chief executive officer of the chamber of commerce is calling them out for hurting local businesses.
Rideau centre is now closed till Feb 6 due to the convoy. This closure was extended and it remained closed until Feb 22nd, when businesses were able to reopen after the convoy was removed.
Feb 4 – an ice cream place closed for safety after a staffer was physically assaulted for wearing a mask.
'You miss a shift, you can't pay rent': Trucker protest keeping Ottawa workers from working
A disable women was unable to get groceries for several days due to the protest. She was finally able to get help from volunteers after CTV published her story. The journalist who published it was then attacked by people saying it was fake.
Protestors harassing hospital workers for wearing masks.
A downtown women's shelter states that the protest is traumatizing women in the city.
Police are escorting paramedics because of safety issues. Residents of Ottawa are afraid to leave their homes.
The noise downtown is at is reading at 105 dB. Sounds over 85 dB are for longer than 10 minutes can cause hearing damage. This goes on in downtown Ottawa continuously and has been for days. Feb 11, the honking continues after the court injunction against it. Feb 14, still honking. Feb 16, the noise continues as the court injunction is still in effect, and a resident is getting readings of 98+ dB on their watch. Feb 17, the noise continues in violation of the court injunction (which means it's illegal fyi).
A resident of Ottawa is told you're going to fcking die you little btch by a convoy participant, caught on video.
A building owner reports that two individuals who identified as being with the convoy brought fireworks into a residential building, taped the front door closed, and set them off. Thread is here with their security camera pictures. piece from the media on it. It's still an active investigation (AFAIK) so nothing has been concluded yet.
COVID-19: Wastewater index blip coincides with convoy arrival
Feb 10, Ottawa police report that there is a concerted effort to flood their 911 non-emergency reporting line. Global news piece on it.
Feb 10, Elementary School Students and Teachers Dealing With Harassment as Far-Right Convoy Occupies Ottawa
Coutts border blockade
They have set up a blockade at the Alberta border crossing causing truckers who are trying to do their jobs to be stuck unable to cross. Here some of them are pleading to be let through. I've heard that they have since let these people through but I don't have a link to confirm it.
Feb 8, the Alberta govt announced they will lift all vaccine mandates but the blockade continues.
Feb 14, Mounties seize guns and arrest 11 protesters at border blockade in Alberta.
White Supremacist Symbols Found at the Coutts Seizure. What does it mean? An explainer.
Feb 15, The Coutts border has been cleared
Ambassador bridge blockade
They are blockading ambassador bridge, halting traffic between Windsor and Michigan
Ambassador Bridge blockade could have 'enormous' impact on Canadian trade, experts say
Testament from a trucker who is affected by the blockade
Feb 13, the bridge appears to have been cleared.
Potential airport blockade
Protestors are targeting the Ottawa airport. AFAIK they did not manage to blockade anything here.
The convoy in other cities
Protestors blocking ambulance bays in Calgary.
A woman reports that she was yelled at and shoved to the ground for wearing a mask.
Anti-semitism in Toronto – a protestor has a sign saying "all vaccines are made by Jews…as are all the lies".
Thread from someone observing the convoy in Toronto, with pictures.
A hit and run occurred in Winnipeg where several protestors were injured. The Const. said (per the piece) that they don't believe the motivation was about the protest. Will update if more information comes out.
Parents condemn mask, vaccine protesters targeting kids at Winnipeg elementary school – protestors in Winnipeg have been yelling at kids wearing masks and telling them not to get the vaccine.
Protestors broke through an RCMP blockade with a vehicle in Surrey, BC, in order to go block the US border.
Feb 12, Protestors showed up at an Okanagan secondary school. In the piece, a student who witnessed the event alleges that this included yelling at them to take off their masks, with one protestor spitting at them, another calling a student a homophobic slur, and another asking a Punjabi student if she has a right to be in this country.
Commissioner says Fredericton COVID-19 protest included racist symbolism and imagery.
Response towards journalists
Someone threw a beer can at Evan Solomon.
Reporter asking for an interview alleges that he was told that he will swing in time.
A journalist describes being spit on.
General yelling at journalists.
Report on rising threats to journalists in Ottawa
Account of a journalist who wanted to interview them
Protestor tells journalist that he "should be tried and executed along with other journalists".
Feb 9, CTV in some cities are removing their logo from vehicles for safety.
Feb 18, A reporting journalist is shoved by a protestor. Another says she was told “You should go home and hang yourself. The world would be better off”.
Feb 19, Video of journalist Glen McGregor being yelled at while doing his job. He alleges that they were spit at and chased back to their bureau by protestors. Another journalist says she was told she should be strung up. Video from another journalist. Another video.
Information about the organizers
Convoy organizer Pat King says "white people have the strongest bloodlines". He's a member of Yellow vests Canada. Here he is again saying the event can only be ended by bulleets. Here he is again saying they will target politician's homes. He also visited the PMO as others told him to kick the door down.
He says that the goal is to see "Trudeau resign and expunge the Liberal party from politics". He also says he wants his supporters to convince the police to arrest Trudeau and Police chief Sloly. Feb 10, Pat King is musing about driving slowly around Ottawa schools to "let kids see the convoy". Feb 12, he's on the stage in Ottawa. Feb 17, Pat King, on video refers to Jagmeet Singh as a terrorist and a racist and makes reference to his home country India (Singh was born in Scarborough). Another video of him complaining about Sikh truckers.
Another organizer, B.J. Dichter, compared Islam to syphilis. He has a long histroy of Islamophobia. He says he is okay with people flying confederate flags. He claims that CPC MPs have reached out to him but this has not been corroborated with any of them so it may not be true.
Another leader Dave Steenburg has posted the Soldiers of Odin logo, which is a well known hate group.
Convoy co-organizer Chris Barber did a facebook live in early January with two confederate flags behind him. He has also made racist and transphobic comments in the past, that include bragging about about yelling racist slurs at someone to make them hang up the telephone. Feb 17, Barber has been arrested.
The founder of Canada Unity and creator of the convoy, James Bauder, has written about a lot of popular conspiracy theories. This is his explanation of the MOU.
Feb 7, In an 'emergency' press conference, the truckers' new spokesperson Tom Marazzo says: "I'm willing to sit at a table with the conservatives and the NDP and the Bloc, as a coalition. I'll sit with the governor general." Video form Justin Ling.
Feb 8, The organizers have withdrawn the MOU, stating that they "do not want an unintended interpretation to continue".
Feb 10, Pat King write "We will be the new government" on telegram. Says they will be "peacefull" (his spelling).
Feb 13, the organizers are back to admitting they want Trudeau jailed
Articles on the organizers that may be of finance charge and provide further information:
Some trucker convoy organizers have history of white nationalism, racism, from Global news.
Meet the Extremists and Social Media Influencers at the Centre of the Far-Right Siege of Ottawa , from Press progress.
5G and QAnon: how conspiracy theorists steered Canada’s anti-vaccine trucker protest, from the Guardian – written by Canadian Justin Ling
Who is who? A guide to the major players in the trucker convoy protest, from CTV.
QAnon involvement
Feb 3 – Romano Didulo, the self declared QAnon queen of Canada arrives. That's her burning a Canadian flag at the rally. She previously threatened health care workers and called for anyone vaccinating children to be shot.
Fundraising for the convoy
GoFundMe ends payments to convoy protest, citing reports of violence and harassment
The convoy organizers are now using another site which has a reputation for funding things other sites won't touch, including (per that piece) the proud boys.
One of the wealthy donors who bankrolled the convoy said “The next step is they all go back and they have a gun in their hands”
Feb 10, Ontario govt freezes access to givesendgo funds
Feb 14, the platform is hacked and allegedly more than half of the donations came from the US.
The emergencies act
Feb 14, prime minister Justin Trudeau invokes the emergencies act.
Details on what this means from Justin Ling, from CBC, and from Reuters.
Feb 22, The act passes. NDP, Liberals, and Elizabeth May all voted in favour. CPC, BQ, and Mike Morrice all voted against.
Feb 24, The emergencies act is revoked as, according to the prime minister, it is no longer needed since all blockades have been dismantled.
Dismantling of the Ottawa convoy
As of Feb 19, there have been 170 arrests so far. No word yet on charges or how many have been released. So far it's reported that 21 people have been hospitalized with "non life-threatening injuries".
As of Feb 20, there have been 191 arrests, with 76 vehicles towed, and a total of 389 charges laid so far.
Kent street is now clear, as is Wellington.
Rideau centre and other Ottawa businesses to reopen on Tuesday Feb 22.
Police admit to using pepper spray but say that rumors that someone was trampled by a horse are false. The fox news reporter who first said that it happened has also admitted herself that she was mistaken that anyone was taken for the hospital for trampling but rather someone was taken their for a heart condition. She has apologized on twitter for the mistake and any resulting confusing.
There is one video that I've seen from a journalist that shows an officer kneeing a man on the ground.
As of Feb 22, there are 125 vehicles at a camp 100 km from Ottawa. The PM gives this as the reason that the emergencies act is still necessary.
Arrests and hearings for the organizers
Two organizers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich have been arrested. Pat King has also been arrested.
Chris Barber has been released on the condition he go home and will have to go to court on March 1st.
Lich and King are remaining in custody until their bail hearing on Tuesday. Both hearings are scheduled for 930am ET (Tues feb 22).
Feb 22, Tamara Lich denied bail. Pat King's will be decided on Friday, Feb 23.
If you're looking to follow along with the hearings, both Glen McGregor and the Canadian anti-hate network have been live tweeting them. Here is CAHN's on Pat King from yesterday.
Politicians in support
Candice Bergen, interim leader of the CPC. On Feb 3rd an inbox she sent to O'Toole was leaked where she says they shouldn't tell the convoy to go home and basically admits they know this will turn bad and want to pin it on the PM. She also accused Freeland of "gaslighting" when she discussed the effect of the confederate flag on black Canadians. She also had lunch with protestors during the protest in Ottawa. Clarification: Bergen says she did not have dinner with them, they just came over while she was having dinner and wanted a photo.
Erin O'Toole, now removed leader of the CPC. Here are his comments on the indigenous blockades in 2020.
Pierre Poilievre, CPC money management critic and possible future leader. Over, and over, and over again. His comments about indigenous blockades. He announced he was running for prime minister (his words) Feb 5th. Feb 9, he says "freedom is on the march in Canada". Feb 11, "I'm proud of the truckers and I stand with them".
Andrew Scheer, former leader of the CPC. His comments on another protest in the past. Feb 9, Andrew Scheer gives a thumbs up to protestors.
Jeremy Patzer, another CPC MP. He's also been pictured with Pat King, the organizer listed above who said white people have superior blood lines. Feb 18, as the Ottawa police are making arrests, he is out shaking hands. He says we should "pray for Canada".
Rachel Thomas, CPC MP, wrote an op-ed about it in the SUN proclaiming support, published Fed 4th.
Glen Motz, CPC MP, on Feb 18 says the PM should have met with convoy organizers like he has. He didn' say which organizers he met.
Other CPC MPs: Michelle Ferrari, Lianne Rood, Warren Steinley, Martin Shields, Leslyn Lewis, Melissa Lantsman, Mark Strahl, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Marilyn Gladu, Rachael Thomas, Ted Falk, Bob Benzen, Tracy Gray, Cheryl Gallant, Greg Mclean, Ryan Williams, Michael Cooper, Garnett Genuis
A bunch of CPC MPs and one (I believe) senator.
Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan.
Renee Merrifield, BC Liberal MLA and leadership candidate.
Maxime Bernier is also there. As is Randy Hillier. At one point they were removing the barricade in front of parliament.
Politicians against
All Liberal, Green, and NDP MPs have, at some point, disavowed the convoy and never supported it, so I won't link to all of them. Greg Fergus commented on the flags there and the prime minister thanked the 90% of truckers who are vaccinated.
Candice Bergen, who previously supported the protest now says she wants it to end (Feb 10).
Pierre Paul-Hus referred to the convoy as an "occupation controlled by radicals and anarchist groups". Another MP, Dean Allison has rebuked him.
Shelby Kramp-Neuman denounced the protest.
Conservative senator, Dennis Patterson, quit the Conservative caucus and disavowed the convoy. He also said "this is not the party I've been a lifelong member of".
Michael Chong, calls for an end to the blockades in Ottawa and at the border.
Bob Benzen, expresses disagreement with the Coutts and Winsor border protests. He previously expressed support for the protest in Ottawa.
Comments from the trucking field
Canadian Trucking Alliance condemns protests by unvaccinated truckers
Vaccine mandate 'not an issue at all' for Canada's largest trucking firm, TFI
Truckers misrepresenting employers by joining Ottawa protest, companies say
Other threads and lists
Masterlist from another user.
Kurt Phillips of anti-hate is creating threads each day: Here is the most recent one. Each has a link to the previous day's thread.
Edit: I'm not sure how to message about this but since it appears things have ended now the mods can feel free to unsticky this whenever they want. Likely I won't update it anymore since it will just be various bail hearings which I'm sure we'll see on the main sub.
Thank you everyone for all your input and comments on the thread! Be well everyone!