What makes the convoy different from protests that Ottawa had seen? The trucks, for sure. But more than that: while participants claimed to put pressure on the federal government, they systematically harassed, targeted, and put pressure on residents. #Ottawa #convoy 1/x
It is one thing to put pressure on political authorities, which will have collateral effects on citizens. But what we have seen is the harassment of residents with the purpose of swaying the government. You protest those in power, not your neighbours. This has never been okay. 2/
The convoy blurred the boundaries between “Ottawa” as the metaphor for government and the actual central neighborhoods and residents, many of them racialized and/or 2SLGBTQ. The harassment targeted residents but was also meant to send a message to the government. 3/4
#Ottawa residents are used to being around protests. But for the last three weeks they haven’t just been “inconvenienced” but actually targeted, intimidated, spat on. It’s not a political protest if you target a neighborhood. It’s terror.
So this blew up. Thank you for listening to Ottawa perspectives. It’s going to take some time to recover collectively and to rebuild our community. Time for shoutouts: please donate to Hijinxs: highjinxottawa.com to help neighbours.
Policing is not the solution, and OPS is broken. Follow @CAMSOttawa @HorizonOttawa and @DiasporaOttawa for thoughts & actions about collective safety. Support @cmckenney for Mayor. Stay safe and support your neighbours.
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