01/31/2022
I recently received this post in my news stream on my personal facebook feed, and thought I would share it with you as food for thought. It is a sad day when a protest deteriorates into a hate rally.
“I've tried to avoid posting anything on what we are experiencing here in Ottawa as a result of the so-called freedom protest. I couldn't begin to express my concerns and disgust at what I'm hearing and seeing happen. However, after reading the post below, it sums things up perfectly! I'm not going to debate the points outlined below. I'm just going to let everyone who hasn't read it, absorb it.
I'm also doing this because a trucker I know in the US thought the protest was great because it was in support of freedom for truckers when it came to the vaccine. I set him straight by telling him that only 10% of Canadian truckers are not vaccinated. I told him about what's outlined below before I had even seen this post I'm sharing. Once he knew, he was furious and equally disgusted!
As someone who is living in Ottawa and seeing first-hand what is going on, here is what the people of Ottawa are experiencing:
• Protestors parking vehicles on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument, and defiling the Terry Fox statue
• Swastikas, pro-Trump & confederate flags being waved by vehicles and individuals
• White nationalist group paraphernalia being worn (jackets, hats, etc.)
• Small businesses facing coercion and threats and having to close to stay safe
• Marginalized business owners all over the city closing to keep themselves and their staff safe
• The Rideau Centre (large downtown mall) closing yesterday because of protestors inside starting fights
• Employees of downtown businesses being harassed by protestors for free food and services
• Protestors forcibly demanding to be fed by The Shepherds of Good Hope homeless shelter, forcing the shelter to close its doors -- yes, they literally took food that was meant to feed our homeless
• Cars of white men driving around yelling profanities at BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) citizens -- I witnessed this myself
• Ottawa locals being harassed, mocked, and bullied for wearing a mask in public spaces
• Protestors literally peeing and pooping in the streets
• Groups of white protestors on the Hill co-opting and mocking Indigenous drumming traditions and ceremony
• Small businesses in the downtown core being vandalized overnight
• Ambulances purposefully blocked by vehicles and protestors saying, "it's my freedom to walk here"
• And yesterday, someone died on their way to the hospital in an ambulance that was delayed due to protestors
When it was first discovered many days ago that some of the organizers behind the protest have ties to alt-right nationalist groups, supporters continued to insist the point of the protest was to access freedom for all Canadians; to keep businesses and services open; to show our children that when we unite, we can achieve anything; and to "end this pandemic".
So what does "all Canadians" mean? Certainly not folks from the BIPOC community, when you don't condemn and force out those who represent white supremist ideals.
What about getting businesses to open? Certainly, that doesn't include business owners in the Capital who have had to close their doors, yet again, to keep themselves and their property safe for potentially up to a week while protestors hang around.
So that leaves the children and the idea of unity. I’m sure you don't mean unity with those supporting alt-right ideals. How many of you explained to your children what a hate symbol is? Did you, or would you, feel unified with those standing next to you, holding an upside-down Canadian flag with a sw****ka drawn on it? There were a few of those flying around the Hill yesterday, from what we could see in photos.
Okay, okay, but what about ending the pandemic? Well, science tells us that even if we lift all mandates, the virus won't magically go away. Instead, our healthcare system will likely collapse, the death toll will climb, and people will continue to suffer.
No matter what you think the original intent of the rally was, you must acknowledge that, at this point, it's shifted. When it comes to hate and racism, it's about impact, not intent. If you choose to participate in a cause that includes white supremacists, you are supporting and giving a platform to white supremacy.
If you have been supporting this convoy, I urge you to reconsider your stance. Let's normalize saying, "I didn't have that information before. Now that I have it, I can change my mind."
I am open to having a discussion with anyone who has questions or wants to chat about this, but I will not entertain any comments that try to disprove or delegitimize any of what I've said here. These are actions that the convoy protestors have taken, and the impact on our city is not up for debate.
Please stay safe and well, everyone. xo”
Written by someone else on my Facebook.
