Freedom Convoy still parked in Canada

The protest that started as a call to repeal COVID-19 vaccine requirements for truckers in Canada has become a demand to end all pandemic mandates. Although thousands of protesters left Ottawa, Ontario, after Sunday, roughly 250 remain in the capital, and organizers said they will stay until the government meets their demands. The protests have sparked several investigations into alleged illegal behavior such as harassment, carrying weapons to public places, and vandalizing historical sites. Almost 2,000 miles away at a heavily trafficked highway in southern Alberta, protesters have blockaded the highway with vehicles since Saturday.

Have the protesters clashed with police? The Ottawa police chief said there are few policing solutions since the protests span so many jurisdictions, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there is no plan to use military force against the demonstrators. GoFundMe froze nearly $10 million Canadian dollars raised for the truckers and placed the donation request under review to ensure the funds were going to the intended recipients. 

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about the start of the protest last week.