Video: Trucker protest in Ottawa escalates as police clash with Freedom Convoy demonstrators, 150 arrested as authorities retake Parliament Hill area



The Freedom Convoy protests have been happening in Ottawa for three weeks, but clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators escalated on Friday and into Saturday.

The Ottawa Police Department said on Friday, "Protesters are assaulting officers, have attempted to remove officer’s weapons. All means of de-escalation have been used to move forward in our goal of returning Ottawa to its normalcy."

The Ottawa Police added, "The protesters continued their assaultive behavior with the police line, to prevent an escalation or further injury, mounted officers were sent in to create critical space between the police line and protesters. This is done to create a safe distance."

However, mounted police charged into a crowd of demonstrators on Friday, knocking down at least two people, including an elderly woman on a mobility scooter.

WATCH: Close up of peaceful protestors in Ottawa protesting mandates being trampled by the mounted unit.\n\nYes, this is Canada in 2022.pic.twitter.com/I776GdTIwe
— K2\ud83c\udf41\ud83d\ude9b (@K2\ud83c\udf41\ud83d\ude9b) 1645225843
Overhead photo of police on horseback facing off with protesters in Ottawa today \n @Brett_Gundlock \n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/gallery-in-photos-ottawa-police-say-action-imminent-to-remove-truck-convoy/\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/iJr5nHA6E1
— Matt Frehner (@Matt Frehner) 1645228231

The Ottawa Police claimed that "no one has been seriously injured or passed away in any of today's police actions." One officer reportedly had a minor injury.

Early Friday night, the Ottawa Police announced that it had arrested over 100 people and towed 21 vehicles.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday, "There are indications we are now starting to see progress."

Interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell added, "We're in control of the situation on the ground and continue to push forward to clear our streets. We will work day and night until this is completed."

On Saturday morning, the Ottawa Police said its officers would be using helmets and batons.

PROTESTORS: We told you to leave. We gave you time to leave. We were slow and methodical, yet you were assaultive and aggressive with officers and the horses. Based on your behaviour, we are responding by including helmets and batons for our safety.

By noon, the Ottawa and Gatineau Police closed the Chaudières Bridge to "prevent an influx of protesters into Ottawa for everyone's safety." The Chaudière Bridge crosses the Ottawa River about half of a mile west of Parliament Hill.

According to the Associated Press, police "aggressively pushed back protesters" and retook the streets in front of Canada's Parliament building from the Freedom Convoy protesters.

Police surge against the freedom protestors in Ottawa, forcing them towards Parliament Hill.\n\nFootage by @PuffinsPicturespic.twitter.com/aBXmpuPFoR
— The Post Millennial (@The Post Millennial) 1645281490


This is the scene in front of Parliament Hill right now. Police are aggressively pushing forward. We are nearly in front of Peace Tower now. #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/22f241zHdL
— Rachel Emmanuel (@Rachel Emmanuel) 1645284656

As the protesters were being driven away from Parliament Hill, demonstrators sang, "O' Canada."

Freedom protestors sing O Canada as police drive them away from Parliament Hill.\n\nFootage by @PuffinsPicturespic.twitter.com/YRm3onH8DH
— The Post Millennial (@The Post Millennial) 1645290028

CTV anchor Graham Richardson said authorities had retaken Wellington Street and the area surrounding Parliament Hill by noon.

Ottawa Police admitted that they used "a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behavior and for officer safety."

On Saturday, the New York Times reported, "Canadian police officers advanced on demonstrators at gunpoint, smashing truck windows and arresting protesters in front of the country’s Parliament building, an aggressive escalation in the government's effort to finally end the protests that have roiled the nation’s capital for three weeks."

The New York Times acknowledged that the trucker protest has been overwhelmingly peaceful, "The protests had been by and large nonviolent, evoking the atmosphere of a carnival. But they ensnarled traffic across the capital, disrupted business, and annoyed residents with incessant honking. Organizers inflated bouncy castles in the street, and people brought small children and dogs. D.J.s spun music from flatbed trucks-turned stages. At one point people soaked in a hot tub erected in front of the Parliament building."

By 1 p.m., Ottawa Police said that they had arrested 47 on Saturday and towed 38 vehicles.

The major crackdown of the protest occurred after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act earlier this week, which enabled law enforcement to set up a secure zone with roughly 100 checkpoints, suspend driver's licenses, and freeze bank accounts of protesters.

On Thursday, police arrested key leaders of the Freedom Convoy – Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.

Video: Massive trucker protest takes over Ottawa. Justin Trudeau reportedly moved to secret location ahead of 'Freedom Convoy' rally.



Truckers and protesters showed up in huge numbers as the Freedom Convoy descended upon Ottawa, Ontario. Despite subzero windchill temperatures on Saturday, Canadians mounted a large protest against vaccine mandates. Massive crowds peacefully protested against government overreach near Parliament Hill.

Truckers were protesting an order that went into effect on Jan. 15, requiring unvaccinated Canadian truckers re-entering the country from the U.S. to get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves. There was reportedly a convoy of up to 50,000 Canadian truck drivers who traveled to Canada's capital to protest the vaccine mandates.

The CBC reported that Trudeau left Rideau Cottage early Saturday for security reasons, and was transported to a secret location with his family.

Trudeau's press secretary Ann-Clara Vaillancourt responded, "The Prime Minister is continuing to isolate in the National Capital Region & work remotely. We’ve consulted Ottawa Public Health on appropriate protocols. As always, we do not comment on security matters."

Last week, Trudeau called the trucker convoy a "small fringe minority of people" who are "holding unacceptable views that they are expressing do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other."

There were thousands of protesters, many waving Canadian flags and some were holding signs expressing contempt toward Trudeau.

Incredible scenes in Ottawa, where tens of thousands have gathered to protest for an end to COVID lies and mandates.pic.twitter.com/ioH2TM5Y4o
— Michael P Senger (@Michael P Senger) 1643487446
Ottawa today\u2026 Wow! pic.twitter.com/kyomLmCw66
— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1643493575
This is the scene in Ottawa as the Trucker Freedom Convoy makes their arrival.\n\nJustin Trudeau has left Canada\u2019s capital city.\n\nSo much for \u201csmall fringe minority\u201d.pic.twitter.com/uHe5KRBEaX
— Benny (@Benny) 1643487569
Canada isn\u2019t going to take more lockdowns and COVID restrictions.\n\nOttawa todaypic.twitter.com/48V0ib862O
— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1643528993

Content Warning: Explicit language:

The scene in Ottawa. I get the impression people here don\u2019t like Trudeau. \n\n#freedomconvoy22pic.twitter.com/1Re5RYkMRD
— Beth Baisch \ud83d\udcf8 (@Beth Baisch \ud83d\udcf8) 1643469301

There were reportedly volunteers handing out food and coffee to the protesters as well as people giving truckers gift cards.

A \u201csmall fringe minority\u201d of Canadians with \u201cunacceptable views\u201d in Vankleek Hill, Ont. prepared supplies and food for truckers \u2013 including amenities for dogs who are part of the convoy. #TruckersforFreedom #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/VhvhjbDxgp
— True North (@True North) 1643471970
Coffees, pocket warmers, Tim Hortons gift cards, and homemade goods brought from all across Canada are among the things being disturbed to the truckers.\n\nThe truckers say they are here to stay and not leaving until segregation is abolished. \n\nCheck out http://ConvoyReports.com\u00a0pic.twitter.com/i8P6YtCvmY
— Mocha Bezirgan (@Mocha Bezirgan) 1643489650

Local authorities were forced to ask for backup from nearby communities as the crowds swelling in Ottawa. Gridlock from the rally caused Ottawa's downtown core to come to a complete standstill, and police said there was no more room for vehicles.

It\u2019s like Canada Day in January. Maybe bigger. #TruckersConvoy2022pic.twitter.com/VCWTVJonBP
— Rupa Subramanya (@Rupa Subramanya) 1643478584

One trucker explained that it isn't about the vaccine, it's about "choice," "freedom," and "liberty."

"We are all together. We are all Canadians. We are all truckers," he said.

This man is a trucker and a Canadian #FreedomConvoy2022 #CHOICE #CanadaTruckers #stopvaccinemandatespic.twitter.com/GDB8em2ujs
— \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 Michelle Lindsay (@\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 Michelle Lindsay) 1643494612

Rebel News founder Ezra Levant gave a speech at the Freedom Convoy rally.

I was invited by the truckers to give a short speech. Here\u2019s what I said:pic.twitter.com/ZYclZwDBtH
— Ezra Levant \ud83c\udf41 (@Ezra Levant \ud83c\udf41) 1643491994

The protest continued into the night with fireworks and a party-like atmosphere.

Canadians celebrating the next official holiday on Parliament Hill: Jan 29th, Freedom Day. \n\nLes Canadiens c\u00e9l\u00e8brent la prochaine f\u00eate nationale officielle sur la Colline Parlementaire: le jour de la Libert\u00e9! \n\n@RebelNews_QC\n\n#TruckOffTrudeau\nJust a fringe minority, right?!pic.twitter.com/Xaa8l7LtWc
— Maxim Boivin (@Maxim Boivin) 1643505718
CANADA : les feux d\u2019artifice et les klaxons ont accompagn\u00e9 les manifestants \u00e0 #Ottawa cette nuit. \n\n()@News24Wide\u2069 #CanadaTruckers #TruckersForFreedom2022 #Trudeaupic.twitter.com/qMTdBRVfre
— Actualiste (@Actualiste) 1643539947
Ottawa's protest has turned into a full-on rave out in front of parliament tonight.\n\nI will remind you, it's -20\u00b0C (-4\u00b0F)\n\nAnd in the middle of the night, the party just keeps going \u2014 trucks included.\n\nhttp://ConvoyReports.com\u00a0pic.twitter.com/q6EQfLzwRi
— Dakota Christensen (@Dakota Christensen) 1643518924

Some truckers said they plan on continuing their protest against the vaccine mandates, and will sleep in the cabs of their trucks.

In a letter to the truckers, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe pledged to end proof of vaccination policies in the province.

"My government supports your call to end the cross border ban on unvaccinated truckers," Moe said in the statement released on Saturday. "And it is why, in the not too-distant future, our government will be ending our proof of negative test/proof of vaccination policy in Saskatchewan."

Russell Brand, Don Cherry, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, and Elon Musk have voiced their support of the "Freedom Convoy."

During a rally in Texas on Saturday night, former President Donald Trump delivered an endorsement of the Canadian truckers.

"We want those great Canadian truckers to know that we are with them all the way," Trump said. "They are doing more to defend American freedom than our leaders by far."