By Adam Sarsfield
In November of 2021, the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that he would be mandating the vaccination of all truck drivers across Canada. This news wasn’t taken lightly by the anti-vaccine truckers, but it mostly smoothed over until January of 2022. At the end of January, a large group of peaceful protesters consisting of disgruntled drivers formed in the city of Ottawa. The group dubbed themselves the “Freedom Convoy” and blockaded many streets in Ottawa. The methods of the Freedom Convoy inspired other groups across the nation to take part in a similar protest. The ultimate goal for these individuals is to have the mandatory mask order lifted or to have Trudeau resign in favor of a Prime Minister that will support their cause. The blockades created a mass disruption, especially across the Ambassador Bridge. This vital bridge is the connection between Michigan and Ottawa and plays a key role in the trade and transportation of goods across the two neighboring cities. After around three weeks of this blockade, the government enacted a state of emergency to deal with the rising threat of the Freedom Convoy. There has not been a State of Emergency in Canada in the past 50 years, which gave political rivals room to question Trudeau’s leadership. Soon after, the Ottawan Police started to arrest protesters and confiscate their vehicles. Over 170 arrests were made and over 25 vehicles were confiscated in connection to the protest. After the mass arrest, the protest died down and the blockade was lifted from Ottawa. However, an after effect of these blockades brought on similar protests across the globe, including in France, Finland, and Belgium.