Truckers’ “freedom convoy” blocks largest US-Canada land crossing

In one of the most significant acts since Canadian truckers’ “freedom convoy” began protesting against COVID-19 mandates last month, protesters blocked the busiest land crossing from the United States to Canada. The Ambassador Bridge, which links Detroit to Windsor, Ottawa, was initially blocked in both directions Monday. It was reopened for U.S.-bound vehicles Tuesday. However, the Canada Border Services Agency’s website showed lanes from the United States were still “temporarily closed” Wednesday morning.

“We want freedom, freedom of all mandates and that’s what we are fighting for,” one of the protesters at the bridge said Tuesday. “We are Canadian and we want to be free Canadians.”

According to Canadian police, another border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, had been shut down for inbound and outbound traffic as of late Tuesday due to protesters.

The Ambassador Bridge closure caused a shortage of parts at a Windsor car assembly plant, with the company having to cut short some shifts on Tuesday. Potential supply issues intensified debate over the protesters in Parliament.

“Conservatives believe that living with COVID means opening up and ending the mandates, and I believe there are some liberals who believe the same thing,” Conservative leader Candice Bergen said Tuesday. “So will the prime minister follow the science, end the lockdowns and let Canada once again be the true north strong and free?”

“I am extremely pleased to hear the conservatives finally talking about following science,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded. “Unfortunately, we see conservatives continuing to both call an end to the protests from in here and support them out there. They need to be more responsible leaders to get through this and to play less politics.”

The protesters are also leaving their mark stateside. According to a Facebook group called “The People’s Convoy,” there will be a U.S. convoy heading from Indio, California to Washington, D.C. beginning March 4.

“Our brothers and sisters of the highway succeeded in opening Canadians’ eyes about the unconstitutional mandates and hardships forced onto their people,” the group said. “Now it’s time for the citizens of the United States of America to unite and demand restoration of our constitutional rights.”