OTTAWA—Police in riot gear made several arrests on April 29 as the Rolling Thunder biker convoy converged in the nation’s capital calling for freedoms, with others coming to Parliament Hill on foot to show support.
Waving Canadian and Quebec flags, around 1,000 protesters marched along Wellington St. heading east toward CF Rideau Centre while chanting “freedom” amid a heavy police presence.
Terry Callaghan, a former trucker, said he joined the protest because he believes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been undermined.
“I’m here to continue with a group of Canadians who believe that the Constitution and the charter are not being applied in this country. And I’m here with this group to voice our freedom and let the world know that we are not in agreement with what [governments] are doing,” he said.
Meanwhile, bikers gathered at different locations, including the parking lot of St. Laurent Shopping Centre, to prepare for their main event on Saturday morning.
Hundreds of motorcycles are expected to participate, with additional support on four wheels. On Saturday they will roll along a pre-planned route with no stopping or parking allowed.
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) have barricaded the downtown core to prevent the motorcycle convoy from going to that area. Police said due to public safety concerns, no vehicles will be permitted inside the motor vehicle exclusion zone except for emergency vehicles at this time.
Protesters gather near Parliament Hill as they prepare to start their march along Wellington St. in Ottawa on April 29, 2022. Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times
A motorcyclist, part of the Rolling Thunder convoy, navigates through the crowd during a rally in Ottawa on April 29, 2022. Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images
Throughout the protests, police in riot gear were seen making several arrests and issuing tickets to protest vehicles. Police were also seen pushing protesters back throughout the evening.
The OPS said in a tweet that officers were deployed with helmets and shields “for their protection to clear the crowd at Rideau and Sussex” due to “an escalation of crowd aggression.”
Police said seven people were arrested and 24 vehicles were towed on the first day of protests. Police also broke the windows of at least one truck.
A supporter of the Rolling Thunder Convoy is arrested during a rally in Ottawa on April 29, 2022. Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images
Protesters at CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa on April 29, 2022. Limin Zhou/The Epoch Times
Rolling Thunder organizer Neil Sheard says the goal of the event is to pay homage to veterans by “driving around and saluting” the National War Memorial, but the route designated by the city won’t allow it.
Another group planning an event this weekend will hold a ceremony at the War Memorial on Saturday morning.
Protesters wearing Quebec and Canadian flags during a demonstration in Ottawa on April 29, 2022. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
Veterans for Freedom has planned what it calls “OP DIGNITY” to reclaim the monument after it says authorities desecrated it by erecting a fence around it during the Freedom Convoy protest in February, and by police beating veterans during the clearing operation.
A third group, Freedom Fighters Canada, has planned events on Parliament Hill for Friday and Saturday.
The protest crowd had thinned by late Friday night, with police remaining on the scene.
The Rolling Thunder event follows the weeks-long trucker convoy protest that called for the removal of COVID-19 mandates.
Noé Chartier and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
