Ottawa Police Make Arrests as Moves Made to Clear Protest Site

Police in Ottawa on Friday, February 18, began towing trucks and arresting demonstrators who refused to leave after a weeks-long protest against vaccine mandates near the Canadian parliament.

Police issued warnings to the protesters on the street and via social media, telling them they must “immediately remove” their vehicles or other property from “unlawful protest sites” or face arrest.

The footage here shows demonstrators trying to hold their ground by forming lines to face down police, continuing to say they had a right to protest, and comparing the actions of Canadian authorities to those seen in Nazi Germany. During a brief confrontation on Rideau Street, in which police and protesters shoved against each other, one protester urges others to “hold the line,” while another calls police officers “Gestapo.”

Just before 12 pm, Ottawa Police said they had made 15 arrests and towed four vehicles from the area, with operations centered on Nicholas Street and Rideau Street.

Police said: “Protesters have put children between police operations and the unlawful protest site. The children will be brought to a place of safety.” Credit: Caryma Sa’d via Storyful

Video Transcript

- And your peoples over here? - Who are are you with? - We're with CTV Ottowa. - No, thanks. - No? - They used force, you said. - Yep. - Can you please describe what happened? Did you see if yourself? - They smashed windows. No, I didn't see myself, but I've seen the windows be smashed. I saw the SUV get pulled out of here, windows missing. - What do you think of that? - World War II tactics, Nazis. - For you, you mentioned some people you know who were here that were arrested. They've been released now. What-- were they given any fines? Were there any charge-- - No, because they don't have any grounds to fine people or arrest people. Everything the police are doing right now is unlawful. - And can you tell me about yourself? How long you've been parked here for? - I'm not parked here, but I've been in Ottawa since this began. - OK, and-- sorry, sir? How long have you-- how long have you been parked here for? - Since the cops told us we could park there. I was here when we drove in. - Almost three weeks. - They put the barricade out for us, and they told us we couldn't come down this road, but we were more than happy to set up a camp right there. I told you I don't want to talk to CTV. Thank you. - OK, but if you're sitting here still talking to CBC. - Yeah, I'm not talking to CTV. Thank you. - OK. - For you, what's your plan now? - Figure it out. I got to take this call. - Thank you. Can I ask you a couple questions too? - No. - What did our forefathers fight for? - [INAUDIBLE] [INTERPOSING VOICES] - You guys like my voice? - Loving people, what the hell is wrong with you? You want to intimidate us? You're going to break my mom's leg again? Get out. Go enjoy your family. - I got to go now too. We just need the one. - There's the-- - We just need one to go away. [INAUDIBLE] my friend's got a Jeep. What are you going to do if them people go away? - Hold the line! - They're there, just at the back of the line. - This is now a political assault guard. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - Move up here, and make a line. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - Move the line back. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - You still need another booster? [INTERPOSING VOICES] - [INAUDIBLE] I am sure you're proud of yourself. I'm sure your mothers are proud of you. - Hold the line! - Hold the line! - Half and half, or-- - Whoever's at least on this half of Parliament-- - Yeah, it needs to come on this side. - And everyone else should figure out where the next [INAUDIBLE] is going to be and then-- - Get there because that was too hard to find over here. [LAUGHS] [INTERPOSING VOICES] Everyone looked out for us, eh? On my Live-- Austin needs you. Austin needs you. [LAUGHS] - It's crazy. [TRUCK HORNS HONKING] [INTERPOSING VOICES] - That's a paddy wagon? [INTERPOSING VOICES] - What are you doing sitting at home? What are you doing sitting in your Airbnb? What are you doing sitting in your hotel room? - Freedom. - If you're in any city in Canada, get in your car now and start driving to Ottawa. - We love you! - For a brave foe, you must take our place. - We love you. - [INAUDIBLE] of it. They have no right to be here. We have every right. - Lay down. - We have every reason to be here. - Everyone, you should have the freedom to just say no. - We are practicing constitutional freedom. - You do have the freedom to say no. How many of your comrades have dropped their-- - Hold the line! [INTERPOSING VOICES] - Freedom! - Hold the line. - Do it right, guys. - Freedom. Hold the line. Hold the line. Hold the line. Gestapo. Nazi, Gestapo. Gestapo. Hold the line. Hold the line. Gestapo. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - Gestapo. Gestapo. - Freedom! [RHYTHMIC TAPPING] - (SINGING) Our home and native land. - They want me to live on my knees, so I might as well get on my knees [INAUDIBLE] - (SINGING) True patriot love in all of us command. With glowing hearts, we see thee rise, the true north strong and free. God keep our land glorious and free. O, Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O, Canada, we stand on guard for thee. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - Your ordinary comedian. - Hey, nice gun, asshole! - US Army's coming after you guys. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - I want everyone to understand that if you go north [INAUDIBLE] - They'll be burning-- - I want you to understand that. There's nothing stopping you north of here. - You have nothing better waiting for you on Saturday night. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - --you will be arrested. Leave north on Sussex. - I want to explain something. I need you to listen. There's not two sides. There's not two sides. - There is. - Listen to me. - If you don't leave, you will be arrested. Leave north no Sussex. - I'm a family person as well. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - This is a tough time for all of us. It gets even more tricky-- - You must leave. You will be arrested. - Well, these business can all open. - Listen, it gets more tricky [INAUDIBLE] If I have to-- if someone has to get arrested. None of us want to make any arrests today. - Then turn around and stand on the right side. - Then stand with us. - I am standing with you. - No, you're not. - No, you're standing against us. - Because you're doing this way. - You're not understanding what I'm saying. - We are very much understanding. There's businesses and everything. But people have suffered for two years. Six-year-olds have attempted to kill themselves. - And have killed themselves. People are dying everywhere. - Do you know what has happened in the last two years, what people have sacrificed? - They come to us, the nurses that spoke out. We get all the messages. - And I've brought people back to life this year with my own hands with CPR. - Yeah, was it an adverse reaction? - What the hell? - I know. I know. I know. But-- I know. - You guys have weapons and stuff? - This is your tax dollars at work, with these guys. All these officers stand for what's going on right now. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - They're going to hurt him. He's old. - [SHOUTING] These guys are harming people that are not harmful. - Imagine-- - Hey, guys. Freedom. I know you're crying, baby. [INTERPOSING VOICES] - Shame on you! - [INAUDIBLE]