Hundreds of motorcycles passed through downtown Ottawa on Saturday as part of the Rolling Thunder Ottawa Rally over the weekend.
Earlier in the morning, crowds gathered in front of the National War Memorial near Parliament Hill.
One person has been arrested on Elgin Street, Ottawa police confirmed via Twitter.
The service later confirmed that another person had been arrested for violating the conditions of release, which included not being in the city center.
One person was arrested in the city center for violating release conditions, which included being absent from downtown Ottawa. No additional information is currently available. https://t.co/2swPqIC087
– @OttawaPolice
Saturday’s events came after police said a crowd gathered on Rideau Street on Friday night had become aggressive.
Hundreds of motorcycles passed through downtown Ottawa on Saturday. (David Fraser / CBC)
Officers were provided with helmets and shields to help control the crowd. Seven people have been arrested on various charges, including assaulting police. Some of these arrests were also for breach of duty, police confirmed on Saturday morning.
This weekend’s events are organized by several people who took part in the week-long occupation of the city streets during the self-described convoy of freedom earlier this year.
“I’m here for the veterans,” said Sonny, a Canadian-flagged protester at the National War Memorial. “This is a rally, not a protest.
“We will leave immediately after that. We pay tribute and respect to this country.”
The schedule issued by the organizers also includes an afternoon rally on Parliament Hill.
While many mandates for masks and other health restrictions for COVID-19 have been lifted, some attendees have focused on those that remain, including requiring many federal officials to be vaccinated and those traveling by plane.
“I still can’t get on a plane. So I still can’t travel, which is worrying because it’s a free country, “said David Paisley, who promoted the weekend’s events via YouTube.
This is the route that the Rolling Thunder Ottawa motorcycle rally is expected to take on Saturday, according to Ottawa police. (CBC)
While the police shared expected route for hundreds of motorcyclists driving through the city center on Saturday, they also established a vehicle exclusion zone from Thursday night. Pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and other vehicles can enter the protected area, but not motor vehicles participating in the Rolling Thunder event.
Police officers are watching motorcyclists passing by applauding protesters during Rolling Thunder, a convoy -style demonstration in Ottawa on Saturday. (Sean Kilpatrick / Canadian Press)
Special areas for prohibited parking are being created in the nearby neighborhoods. A counter-protest also gathered at the National War Memorial earlier Saturday.
“We came here to inform people that this is a periphery. They do not represent all veterans, our nation or anything else,” said Clayton Goodwin, a counter-protester and veteran. “This is a monument owned by Canada, not veterans. Not to be politicized. You tore down fences and politicized it.
On Saturday morning, the Ottawa branch of services posted on Twitter that it had issued 417 tickets and towed 30 vehicles. So far, police have towed three vehicles, a total of 33.
Police also tweeted that a vehicle removed by police on Friday tried to enter Ottawa on Saturday but was stopped, inspected and decommissioned.
As of 7 am yesterday, police have issued 417 tickets and towed 30 vehicles in connection with the special non-stop areas that are on site for the motorcycle event this weekend.
Three slips for noise and smoking disorders have been issued. pic.twitter.com/fw10d5qDJ3
– @ OttawaBylaw
Three slips for noise and smoking disorders have also been issued.
Ahead of the weekend, organizers said they would leave after Sunday morning church service in Ottawa’s Vanier neighborhood, police said.
Police are now pushing people from Elgin Street onto the sidewalk, urging people to return to the tomb. The arrest was made while this was happening pic.twitter.com/4PKU8ZIz4N
– @ DCFraser
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