Police are trying into a number of acts of vandalism that occurred throughout an anti-COVID-19 vaccine rally on January 29, 2022.
REUTERS/Michael Chisholm
Elon Musk seems to have thrown his help behind the Canadian truckers main huge anti-vaccine-mandate protests within the nation’s capital – as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday slammed protestors who urinated on the Nationwide Struggle Memorial and brandished swastika flags.
“Taking a break from politics for some time. Right here’s a pleasant photograph of vans,” Musk tweeted Sunday alongside a photograph of freight automobiles creating gridlock on a freeway.
Simply days earlier, the billionaire Tesla founder mentioned in a tweet that “Canadian truckers rule” and “freedom is being stripped away one piece at a time till it's gone.”
Musk has beforehand spoken of his opposition to vaccine mandates – though he’s mentioned he helps the COVID shot as a result of the “science is unequivocal.”
His present of help got here as hundreds of protesters — principally made up of an enormous convoy of truckers – descended on Ottawa over the weekend to decry Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates, in addition to these involving masks and lockdowns.
Trudeau, who mentioned earlier Monday that he’d examined constructive for COVID, acknowledged in a collection of tweets that the pandemic was “irritating” for a lot of – however added, “Canadians have been shocked, and admittedly disgusted, by the conduct” of some demonstrators.
“I need to be very clear: We’re not intimidated by those that hurl abuse at small enterprise employees and steal meals from the homeless. We gained’t give in to those that fly racist flags. And we gained’t cave to those that interact in vandalism, or dishonor the reminiscence of our veterans,” Trudeau wrote.
“There isn't any place in Canada for this conduct. So, to these accountable: It must cease.”
The PM known as on protestors who had been “uncomfortable with the symbols of hatred and division on show” to talk up, saying, “Be brave and converse out. Don't stand for, or with, intolerance and hate.”
The developments come after police revealed Sunday they're investigating potential prison prices towards the anti-vaccine-mandate protesters who urinated on the Nationwide Struggle Memorial, danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and desecrated numerous different monuments within the metropolis.
The statue of nationwide hero Terry Fox, an athlete who misplaced a leg to bone most cancers, was draped with an upside-down Canadian flag and an indication saying, “Mandate freedom” throughout the protests.
Some demonstrators — principally made up of the large convoy of truckers and their supporters — had been additionally noticed carrying indicators and flags with swastikas by the streets.
“A number of prison investigations are underneath approach in relation to the desecration of the Nationwide Struggle Memorial/Terry Fox statue, threatening/unlawful/intimidating conduct to police/metropolis employees and different people and harm to a metropolis car,” Ottawa police mentioned.
“Unlawful conduct won't be tolerated and can be absolutely investigated.”
Trudeau, his spouse and their youngsters had been reportedly moved from their house to a secret location within the capital as hundreds of protesters descended on the town.
Canada’s so-called “Freedom Convoy” initially began as a protest towards a vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers however shortly grew right into a mass demonstration towards the federal government over COVID laws.
The truckers and others are protesting a brand new rule that took impact Jan. 15 requiring rig operators getting into Canada to be absolutely vaccinated towards COVID.
Dozens of vans had been lined up in entrance of Parliament buildings Saturday morning, together with some that had been parked on the grounds of the Nationwide Struggle Memorial.
Protesters in contrast the vaccine mandates to fascism, one truck carried a Accomplice flag, and lots of carried expletive-laden indicators concentrating on Trudeau.
Lots of the protesters remained in place Sunday, and a few continued rallying in downtown Ottawa on Monday.
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