Freedom Convoy Spokesman Announces Peaceful Withdrawal From Ottawa
As police in Ottawa escalated operations for the second day in a row against the trucker protest opposed to the government's COVD-19 mandates, a spokesperson for the movement, dubbed "Freedom Convoy," called for a peaceful withdrawal, saying they are not going to be a "punching bag for law enforcement."
Speaking at a press conference at the Lord Elgin Hotel in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 19, retired Canadian military officer Tom Marazzo said many truckers feel that the best course of action for them and their families is to withdraw in order to avoid further harm.
"I never thought I'd see the day when law
enforcement officers would be arresting citizens for the crime of exercising
their charter rights and freedoms to free assembly and free speech," he said.