Truckers Planning ‘Freedom Convoy’ Claim Protest Will Be Lawful Despite Social Media Chatter
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Canada’s Transport Minister Defends Mandates For Truckers as ‘Freedom Convoy’ Raises $1 MILLION
Ottawa, ON — Truckers planning Canada’s upcoming “Freedom Convoy” say they will only engage in lawful conduct despite accusations to the contrary.
A group of Canadian truck drivers are pushing back against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Federal Government for imposing sweeping COVID-19-related mandates.
As Transportation Nation Network (TNN) reported this week, a nationwide “slow roll” is scheduled to begin on January 23, and converge in Ottawa on January 28.
“We are taking our fight to the doorsteps of our Federal Government and demanding that they cease all mandates against its people,” organizers of the Freedom Convoy wrote in a GoFundMe campaign, which has now raised over C$500,000.
However, concerns truckers might block roadways and exits have heightened in the last 48 hours as chatter on social media has increased.
One flyer being circulated calls for locking down Ottawa until governmental leaders end the mandates.
Multiple organizers of the Freedom Convoy told TNN on Wednesday they are urging drivers — and all participants — to remain peaceful and within the law.
“We are not planning on doing anything illegal,” said Brigitte Belton, who is one of the organizers. “I don’t think it will come to that. Our whole goal is to have freedom for Canadians.”
Earlier this week, another group of frustrated truckers protested near the U.S.-Canada border in Manitoba.
Trucker rally today at Emerson MB on hwy75, protesting the unjust discrimination of a medical procedure border crossing mandate! #holdtheline #freedom @bsfarmzeldon @LifeChanger76 pic.twitter.com/fd6UVbuVTc
— Cameron Hildebrand (@CameronHild) January 17, 2022
The demonstration on Highway 75 was between Emerson Duty Free and the Commercial Inspection station and reportedly disrupted the operations and flow of traffic.
In the early morning hours on January 17, 2022, a truck convoy descended near the U.S.-Canada border in Emerson, Manitoba, Canada to protest the vaccine mandate policies both the U.S. and Canada are implementing. pic.twitter.com/WuvVxsnsfc
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) January 17, 2022
“Whatever happened to freedom of choice? We don’t have that anymore,” Joe Janzen told SteinbachOnline about why he participated in the protest. “We are just making it known that we are making a stand. Enough is enough.”
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), the country’s largest group representing trucking stakeholders, issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the protests.
Click HERE to read what the CTA had to say.
Stay logged on to TransportationNation.com for continuing coverage on this developing story.
Photos courtesy Cameron Hildebrand
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