About five months after being expelled from Ottawa, Freedom Convoy protesters will return to the capital this weekend. There, with the presence of more determined police, we are faced with questions about where the movement is heading.
The current direction of the movement is unknown, as many leaders were jailed during the winter occupation or restricted by bail conditions.
The issue of unifying heterogeneous groups in the first place, 's opposition to the mandatory vaccine, has been since the federal and state governments lifted most public health measures. It has lost its charm.
Due to lack of clear leadership, the group promotes a variety of pet objectives, from Alberta's independence to legal concepts such as constitutional sheriffs {131. } I have relied on.
Meanwhile, a large cast of characters are fighting to influence a variety of popular social media channels within the movement.
In videos posted on Facebook, TikTok and other platforms, , with many followers, escaped from Ottawa and claimed supporters before being arrested. Or be a government agency.
Conspiracy theories, radical rebel rhetoric, homosexual disgust, and transphobia slurs are common in online convoy discussion forums and showcase the mainstream appeal of the movement. I am limiting.
Therefore, Canada Day weekend protests in Ottawa and small rallies planned in Miller, Arta, Thermo, British Columbia, and Winnipeg are decisive moments for the movement {137. } Come to. Some groups see it as an opportunity to project a more unified and modest image than .
"Show Ottawa that we are Canadians to respect," said the organizer of Freedom Central Canada, one of Facebook's largest convoy groups. AmandaHaveman said in a video message earlier this week.
"We just want to hear our voice and we want Canada to return to its previous state."
As part of the rebranding Haveman tells the group's more than 100,000 Facebook followers not to lift maple leaf upside down or wave the flag of F--k Trudeau, two symbols that stood out in previous convoy protests. Did. ..
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The convoy event planned for this weekend will be a march to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday, Friday. Includes a march to the Parliamentary Hill. Saturday Pancake Breakfast — Each is hosted by a different group.
Ottawa police said they did not tolerate long-term occupation attempts and banned vehicles from the area around Parliamentary Hill.
On Wednesday, when the Articles of Incorporation officerannounced, it issued 154 tickets as part of the city's enforcement plan, and the zero tolerance policy was issued when towing 44 vehicles. It became clear.
But in the minds of some convoy supporters, police strategy is part of an attempt to drive the movement into violence.
"They want to be people who accuse you of being you. They want to be terrorists to you," said Live From the Shed, a webcast dedicated to the convoy movement. Anonymous host said.
In a recent interview with CTV, interim conservative leader Candice Bergen rejected allegations that the occupation of Ottawa was an attempt to overthrow the government, and her caucuses were held this summer. He said he welcomed participation in the convoy's protests. Federal Conservative Leader Candidate Pierre Poirievre marched with veteran James Top on Thursday
Such an appearance is related to Ahmed Allawi, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University who is studying the movement of online militants.
"In the past, I've seen many members of the movement show some sort of violence and harass others ... it's like giving trust to these people. It's a thing, "said Allawi.
In the movement, public opposition often coexists with radical claims and actions that deviate from the norms of democracy, not to mention the law.
A recent judge convoyed the CBC / Radio-Canadaafter presiding over the following hearings, including threats to urge police to respond. He said he received an offensive message from his supporters. Exercise leader.
"It's a threat," the judge said. "It's trying to influence the court's decision, and it's serious."
This month, two convoy groups published a book containing LGBTQ-positive messages for drug performers to children. We are calling on members to contact the City Library to protest the drug story hour, which is a reading event.
In a message to supporters, influential figures in the convoy movement often talk about their commitment to the democratic process. It's ambiguous.
"[Prime Minister Justin Trudeau] should be imprisoned for treason. RCMP, police officers — politics because of the crime they are committing against their people. The house should be arrested, "Ron Clarke said in this week's video with his 128,000 Facebook followers.
Clark, who has attended a gathering of various conspiracy supporters and drove through central Canada, also blamed "transgender junk" and chemtrails at school for causing a natural disaster in British Columbia. I objected (this is because the conspiracy theory of maintaining jet exhaust contains chemicals that control the weather).
Crossroads movement
There may be individuals in the movement that pose national security risks due to violent ideologies, but the movement itself is public order and morals. Most often treated as a matter of concern, Stephanie Carvin, a professor of international affairs at Carlton University and a former national security analyst, said.
However, she added that the current form of movement is difficult for law enforcement agencies to deal with.
"I think one of the challenges of the police today is that there is no leader. There is no leader. There are various movements. There are jokes. There are battles. "Carvin said.
Currently, some anti-delegation groups are trying to gather around the least polar numbers of the movement, not a specific issue.
Some of the most popular are Tamara Lich and {102, the main organizers ofwho were recently re-arrestedon allegations of breaking bail conditions during the winter occupation. } There is a Topp. , the anti-mandate march culminated in Ottawa on Thursday nationwide.
But the future of the convoy movement finds new complaints beyond opposition to vaccination obligations and what the relationship is. I want to have a democratic system that may depend on that heterogeneous group to determine if it is.
In a webcast that combines conspiracy theory and right-wing politics, Shadoe Davis, a popular convoy movement, told listeners to run for school boards and local elections this week. The anti-mandate group Stand4thee recently held an online briefing for aspiring candidates.
But so far, convoy supporters have had little success in ballot boxes.
Jason Lafarce, the organizer of the Convoy in Sudbury, Ontario, ran for a recent local election. He received 1.2 percent of the votes.