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Canadian police mentioned seven folks had been arrested and 24 automobiles had been towed at a motorbike rally in downtown Ottawa on Friday.
Bikers rolled into the nation’s capital, whereas a bunch of anti-Covid mandate protesters on foot gathered outdoors the parliament constructing, some holding Canadian flags and enjoying loud music.
“There have been no reported accidents, and police stay in full management of metropolis streets,” the Ottawa Police Service mentioned, as automobiles had been barred from coming into sure areas round Parliament Hill.
The organizers weren’t clear in regards to the objective of the Rolling Thunder rally, saying solely that they needed to “peacefully rejoice our freedom.”
Canadian media, nonetheless, reported that the occasion is linked to Freedom Fighters Canada (FFC), a bunch that opposes Covid-19 mandates and different so-called “tyrannical” laws.
Neil Sheard, a key Rolling Thunder organizer, mentioned on Monday that bikers had been towards blocking the streets, property harm, or “hate and vitriol directed to the residents of Ottawa.” He mentioned the bikers will depart the town after the two-day occasion ends, in keeping with the Ottawa Citizen day by day.
Mayor Jim Watson mentioned earlier than the rally that the town needed to keep away from visitors disruptions that occurred in the course of the Freedom Convoy protests earlier this 12 months.
Individuals rallying towards the vaccine mandate rolled a whole lot of vehicles and different automobiles onto the streets in downtown Ottawa for weeks in January and February. To cope with the truckers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the primary time because it was adopted in 1988. Police dispersed the convoy, making a number of arrests.
“We’ve got all arms on deck on this,” Watson mentioned on Monday. “Nobody needs a repeat of what occurred in the course of the truckers’ convoy, and that’s why I imagine that we’re extra proactive and better-prepared to cope with the problem.”
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