- Title: 'My body my choice': Canada protesters linger after removal order
- Date: 13th February 2022
- Summary: WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA (FEBRUARY 12, 2022) (REUTERS) PEOPLE BLOWING SMALL BOAT HORN CANADIANS WITH FLAGS CHEERING CANADIANS WITH FLAGS WALKING AROUND PROTEST SITE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BARTÅOMIEJ WNEK, WINDSOR RESIDENT, SAYING: "The change I think people would like to see is equality and being heard, and dropping irrational mandates that are benign dropped all over the
- Embargoed: 27th February 2022 04:41
- Keywords: Canada authorities body bridge coronavirus protest truckers vaccines
- Location: WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA
- City: WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA
- Country: USA
- Topics: Society/Social Issues,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001FYIBN7R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:About 200 protesters were still left at the Canadian border after police began pushing them back from the blockade of an international bridge Saturday night, more than 24 hours since a removal injection went into effect.
Demonstrators opposing government pandemic restrictions have occupied the Ambassador Bridge for the fifth straight day, snarling international trade and prompting U.S. President Joe Biden to call for an end to the siege. But there was still no sign when traffic would resume. While police have successfully pushed back protesters from the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, which links Detroit and Windsor, more people were streaming into the area and the operation appeared to have stalled.
As the afternoon dragged on, some Canadians questioned what was behind the delay, given the order issued by a court on Friday to end the blockade and the imposition of a state of emergency declared by Ontario authorities.
The Ambassador Bridge is North America's busiest land border crossing. Since Monday, protesters in trucks, cars and vans have blocked traffic in both directions, choking the supply chain for Detroit's carmakers.
The so-called "Freedom Convoy" protests, started in the capital Ottawa by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, entered its 16th day on Saturday. It has morphed into a wider protest against COVID-19 curbs, with people joining in with smaller vehicles, including cars, vans and pick-up trucks.
During a meeting of his top advisers on Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed border crossings cannot, and will not, remain closed, and all options remain on the table, a readout issued by his office said.
Early on Saturday, Windsor Police urged demonstrators to act lawfully and peacefully. Officers in black uniforms with yellow vests moved behind the demonstrators' vehicles and, accompanied by police cruisers, slowly advanced on the protesters, pushing them back from the bridge entrance. Police have arrested one person inn Windsor as of Saturday night.
(Production: Julio-Cesar Chavez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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