Thread by @poli_sci_guy

I gave testimony to the Ottawa People’s Commission (@ottpeoplescomm), which is examining the impacts of the horrid (anti-)#FreedomConvoy that terrorized our neighbourhood last winter. I also listened to other testimonies. Some takeaways.
(A thread)
#FreeDumbConvoy #FluTruxKlan

I shared the story of my near-death experience at the hands of a red-light-running “F*ck Trudeau” trucker, and the debilitating impacts on my wife’s anxiety of the senseless honking. I am humbled by the messages of sympathy I received afterwards, many had similar experiences.

The executive director of a local community health centre, situated in the middle of the area of the illegal occupation last winter, told heartbreaking stories from their clients who were desperately needing services...

She herself was surrounded on a number of occasions by angry white men who insulted her for wearing a mask, and in once instance, one even bodychecked her. She wasn’t surprised, given the vast amounts of alcohol the occupiers were consuming every day, openly, out on the street...

Clients of her health centre lived in fear, and children were harassed just like adults were. We know there was lots of public urination and defecation, but there were also instances of the occupiers smearing feces on people’s cars and people’s front porches...

People of colour were particularly targeted, and the waving of countless Confederate flags (yeah, that slavery throwback) was not at all conducive to feelings of safety.

Julia, a local resident who was new to Ottawa, talked about the harassment she and her partner endured...

She got called a “f*cking liberal”, among other things, for wearing a mask. They eventually stopped wearing masks when leaving their home, despite the crowds, because of the threats and insults. They reported several threatening incidents to police but...

... the police kept telling them that they would not take action because they were afraid of provoking even more violence from the occupiers. They suggested that Julia and her partner simply leave the downtown (where they live).

Julia works in the Byward Market, but the CEO of her organization had posted (on Twitter) complaints that her kids couldn’t sleep due to the honking, and after that post, their organization received threats. They had to close the office as a result.

Eventually, Julia fled to stay with someone in the suburbs, but she worried about potential vandalism against her downtown home.

Re: honking, local resident Ken reported that, when swimming at his pool in Minto Place, you could even hear the horns when underwater in the pool.

A common theme throughout the testimonies was recognition of how this occupation was unlike any other protest. Ken noted that, in 55 years of living here, he’s never seen anything remotely comparable to the horror of the convoy...

These occupiers were different from other protestors, Ken said, in their complete lack of understanding of the reality of the pandemic situation, and the absence of empathy for the harm they were doing to local residents. While some ppl there may have not meant any harm to us...

...they became instruments of harm by associating themselves with the convoy and its racist/hateful/anti-democratic leadership. Many told Ken that they were not leaving until Trudeau resigned – that was the top demand (i.e. overthrowing the last election results).

In his decades here, and witnessing countless protests, Ken had also never seen such a failure of the police to ensure public safety, and do their jobs.

Ken talked to many local businesses during the occupation, and found that some who risked staying open couldn’t operate...

... effectively because some staff didn’t show up, due to fear. A jeweller near the corner of Bank and Gloucester reported that occupiers would open the business door and yell insults at staff because they had a “masks required” sign on the door.

Another business owner reported that the convoy occupation did such damage to his spirit and his mental health that he closed permanently.

In downtown Ottawa, we’re used to protests, marches, road closures, etc. But the terrible “Freedom” Convoy was unique...

No other protest led to the shutdown of the Rideau Centre (by far our largest mall), doing harm to many in the service industry. This convoy was a violent, racist-laden, malevolent thug rally and these were not people willing or able to see reason...

Hatred was the common theme. Hate against the prime minister, hate against mask wearers, and hate against public health.

In many countries, police are feared, but in this case, the police were afraid, given the unique nature of this particular gang of outlaws. Unprecedented.

Giving my testimony, and listening to the others’ testimonies… it was painful to re-live, but we must not let our suffering be swept under the rug. It was liberating to be able to talk about our experiences in a safe space such as this.

Yes, we are extremely privileged in Canada (white men more than anyone), but no one should have to live in fear. No one should feel imprisoned at home, as they are shouted at from outside, and having to see stars of David, swastikas, and Confederate flags parading by them...

We can’t accept that in Canada.

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Thanks for reading. Again, this was my read of the key takeaways over the past couple of days, paraphrased down for Twitter. I hope that no one out there ever has to go through such trauma as we did. Sending hugs all around, Centretown!

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