Ottawa, February 18; Large groups of police officers moved in on protesters in downtown Ottawa Friday, making more than 100 arrests—including high profile organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber and Pat King—during intense clashes with the demonstrators who refuse to leave the area.
Interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell called the effort to move in on protesters “methodical” and “well thought out” during a Friday afternoon press conference, commending officers for maintaining control of the situation on the ground.
“We will run this operation 24 hours a day until the residents and community have their city back,” Bell said.
Throughout the day, both on Twitter and over loudspeakers in the streets, police urged protesters to leave, warning “anyone within the unlawful protest site may be arrested.” As of Friday evening, police reported upwards of 100 arrests and at least 21 vehicles has been towed.
By evening, the situation grew more heated as mounted police advanced on protesters on Rideau Street.
Later, a number of mounted police charged a large group of protesters facing police lines near the Senate in an apparent effort to corral the crowd up toward Wellington Street. Many in the shocked crowd ran, some yelling, “You are trampling us!”
On Twitter, Ottawa Police accused protesters of assaulting officers and attempting to remove officers’ weapons as police faced off with protesters.
“Protesters are assaulting officers, have attempted to remove officer’s weapons. All means of de-escalation have been used to move forward in our goal of returning Ottawa to it’s normalcy,” read the tweet.
Protesters are assaulting officers, have attempted to remove officer’s weapons. All means of de-escalation have been used to move forward in our goal of returning Ottawa to it’s normalcy. #ottawa #ottnews
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 18, 2022
