Organizers of a demonstration actively protesting vaccine mandates outside Canada’s Parliament say they have enough money to keep the trucks there for as long as four years.
MSN reports that thousands of protestors gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa over the weekend to join up with the “Freedom Convoy” of truckers who have been traveling across Canada. During Saturday’s demonstration in Ottawa, truckers reportedly blocked streets around the Parliament building.
Some protestors have pledged to stay in the area to continue the protest and convoy organizers say that they have enough funds to keep the trucks on Parliament Hill for up to four years. This statement comes after the “Freedom Convoy 2022” GoFundMe surpassed $7.1 million in donations ($9.1 million in CAD).
#FreedomConvoy2022 pic.twitter.com/Tk69wR934s
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On Sunday, Ottawa police reported that they are “actively and patiently managing a well-funded, major demonstration in the downtown core. Police also state that there have been “multiple cases of disruptive, inappropriate and threatening behavior from demonstrators.” Officers added that they “are aware that many demonstrators have announced their intention to stay in place. This will continue to cause major traffic, noise and safety issues in the downtown core. We urge all residents to avoid travel to the core.”
The Canadian Trucking Alliance, who opposes the current protests and convoy, claims that the truckers involved in the demonstrations do not reflect the views of a majority of truck drivers.
“While a number of Canadians are in Ottawa to voice their displeasure over this mandate, it also appears that a great number of these protesters have no connection to the trucking industry and have a separate agenda beyond a disagreement over cross border vaccine requirements,” the group said in a statement on Saturday.