By: Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — The operators of a soup kitchen and shelter for homeless people in Ottawa say protesters taking part in the Freedom Convoy harassed their staff and volunteers.

In a release, the Shepherds of Good Hope says staff were bullied into providing meals for the protesters.

“While we are not certain of exact numbers, the demands for meals and verbal altercations continued for several hours over the dinner period,” the group said Sunday in a release. “One member of our shelter community was assaulted by protesters.”

The organization says a security guard intervened and was threatened and subjected to racial slurs.

As well, the group says trucks were parked in its ambulance drop off zone for nearly 12 hours.

They were eventually towed by Ottawa police.

Other shelters in the area also felt the effects of the protest.

“The Salvation Army outreach van was not able to run into the downtown core,” the group said. “All shelters in the sector had to figure out contingency plans for client transportation.”

Workers add the incessant honking and noise from the trucks caused anxiety and stress for both staff and residents.
(Eagle News Service)