Protesters blocking one of Canada’s busiest border crossings were dealt a one-two punch Friday, as a court granted an injunction banning their blockade and Ontario’s premier declared a state of emergency that would subject them to major fines.
Flag-waving demonstrators opposed to COVID-19 measures have been blocking cross-border traffic at the foot of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., for days. In a ruling late Friday afternoon, a judge gave them until 7 p.m. to clear out, although crowds were continuing to grow after that time and it remained unclear when many would leave.
“The activities that are the subject of this injunction, the freedom that those want directly results in the denial of freedom to others in society. The direct denial of their freedom to work. The direct denial of their freedom to cross and to move goods and services across the bridge,” Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz said before delivering his ruling.
Upon hearing of the ruling, numerous protesters at the foot of the bridge — most of whom declined to give their full names — said they did not plan to go anywhere. A little later, a group of demonstrators voted to stay at the site, letting out a loud cheer and yells of “freedom” as man holding a microphone declared “let’s stay.”
Music then blared from loudspeakers as a growing crowd of protesters milled about an intersection. Nearby, the number of uniformed officers and cruisers grew as well.
Windsor police issued a warning they’d soon take action.
“We are providing notice that anyone blocking streets or assisting others in the blocking of streets may be committing a criminal offence,” the force wrote in a statement.
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See Also:
(1) Canadian Province of Ontario Declares State of Emergency in Response to Trucker Protests
(2) Ottawa will have to wait. Windsor is the crisis, now
(3) Ontario mayor seeks court order to remove trucker protest from border crossing
(5) OPP pay Big Brother-style visit to Facebook user’s home
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