Police clear protesters from bridge linking Windsor to Detroit

By: Thomas I. Likness with Andre Lajoie in Ottawa
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — As the sun rose over the border city of Windsor in Canada, a brigade of police officers began clearing protesters and their vehicles from the Ambassador Bridge which links the city to Detroit, in the U.S.

Officers spoke with those parked on the bridge and asked them to leave.

Once the bridge was cleared, a line of police began advancing toward the crowd of protesters pushing them back.

Protestors against Covid-19 vaccine mandates block the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on February 12, 2022. Police in Canada were positioning Saturday to clear the bridge on the US border, snarled for days by truckers protesting against vaccination rules, an AFP journalist observed. “We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully & peacefully,” police in Windsor, Ontario, home to the Ambassador Bridge, tweeted in announcing the deployment. JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP

Although some shouted slogans and insults at police, there were no incidents of violence.

The slow clearing of the area near the border crossing continues.

Those who refuse to leave the area face arrest.

Traffic on the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest border crossing in North America, has been snarled since Monday, stopping the movement of goods between the two countries.

That has forced many businesses to shut down and lay off workers.

Hardest hit has been Canada’s auto manufacturing sector.

Protest continues in Ottawa

Meanwhile in Ottawa, demonstrators continue to occupy the nation’s capital.

The scene near Parliament Hill resembles a party.

Temporary shelters have been set up. Barbeques are going. A concert was held on city streets overnight.

Protesters are milling around, some harassing local residents for wearing masks.

Residents are upset the disruption and noise has continued.

Police are frustrated saying they lack the resources to quell the occupation.

“Overnight, demonstrators exhibited aggressive behaviour towards law enforcement including refusing to follow directions, overwhelming officers, and otherwise subverting enforcement efforts,” police said in a statement Saturday.

Ottawa city councillor Jeff Leiper expressed his frustration on Twitter.

“The siege zone has been allowed to become more welcoming to occupiers rather than less. @ottawapolice, so long as they are entrenched downtown, the lawlessness is being felt across the city and no one is safe, Leiper tweeted Saturday. “Close down the fun fair.”

More protesters are poised to enter the city later today.
(Eagle News Service)