Last week hundreds of motorists across France began a version of Canadian Freedom Convoy’ to protest against the country’s COVID-19 mandate. The aim was to call for removing the COVID Vaccine Pass mandate to reach and travel to Paris.
For nearly a fortnight, hundreds of motorists, including pickups, cars and commercial trucks, have jammed the streets of the Canadian capital, Ottawa, and at least three border crossings between Canada and the United States.
The protests began after the Justin Trudeau government mandated a COVID-19 vaccine for cross-border truck drivers who wanted to enter or leave Canada’s borders. Starting at several points across Canada, the convoy converged on January 29 with a rally at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
According to the Associated Press, convoy organizers said they had moved to protest a federal government requirement that truckers be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a 14-day quarantine upon re-entry from the United States.
Meanwhile, similar protests spread across the world in Argentina, New Zealand, Austria, Australia, the US, and France.
On February 10, French police warned they would prevent so-called ‘freedom convoys’ from blocking Paris as protesters against COVID-19 rules drove towards the capital.
Police said anyone who blocked the roads faced up to two years in prison, a fine of 4,500 euros ($5,140) and a three-year driving ban.
The authorities in neighbouring Belgium also issued warnings as participants wanted to continue on February 14 2022, in Brussels, Belgium and the capital of the European Union, in what they called “European convergence”.
In light of the violence and protests, President Emmanuel Macron told the newspaper Ouest France, urging peace, “We have always defended the right to protest.
His prime minister, Jean Castex, was blunt. He said citizens have the right to protest but not to the standoff in the capital.
In light of the violence and protests, President Emmanuel Macron told the newspaper Ouest France, urging peace, “We have always defended the right to protest.
