WINDSOR, Ont.—Police have moved in to clear the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing in Windsor, Ont., on Feb. 12.
Heavily armed police are at the site, including officers from the Windsor Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP, and others. There are also armoured vehicles and several police cruisers.
A line of police officers advanced on the protesters around mid-day, pushing them further away from the site of the blockade.
Most of the protesters have been dispersed, with a few still remaining at the main protest site. Most of the big trucks are gone.
Some other protesters have set up blockades on nearby roads, instead of the main road leading to the international bridge, as police don’t let them join the main blockade site.
Protester Domenico Pelle says some demonstrators are telling the police they may leave today, but if the province doesn’t lift its COVID-19 mandates in two days, they’ll be back.
“We’re trying to uphold our Charter of Rights and Freedoms out here,” Pelle, a machinist, said at the site of the protest.
On Feb. 11, the Ontario Superior Court granted an injunction to prevent the protesters from blocking the border crossing. The injunction came into effect at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11, but more protesters came to the site on the evening of Feb. 11.
The number of protesters went down on Feb. 12.
“The Windsor Police & its policing partners have commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge. We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully & peacefully,” Windsor Police said in a tweet on the morning of Feb. 12. “Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time.”
Police have threatened arrest for those who “are located within the demonstration area.”
Protesters have been blocking the international border crossing since Feb. 6, demanding an end to COVID-19 mandates.
The protest is one of several inspired by the truckers’ protests that started against the federal government’s requirement that all truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border need to have COVID-19 vaccination.
Protesters remain in Ottawa, as well as other sites including Canada-U.S. border crossings in Alberta and Manitoba.
On Feb. 11, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that the province will be in a state of emergency due to the ongoing protests in Windsor and Ottawa.
The declaration includes giving authorities more powers to deal with any blockages in 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges, and railways, Ford said.
Fines for non-compliance will be up to $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment, Ford said, adding that the provincial government will also provide additional authority for the police to take away the personal and commercial licenses of anyone who doesn’t comply with these orders.
More to come
Police Move In to Clear Blockade at Canada-US Border Crossing Bridge in Windsor (theepochtimes.com)
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