On Friday evening, local and federal authorities in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada used tear-gas and horses to break up the ongoing Freedom Convoy, a massive demonstration against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.
In doing so, authorities appeared to trample one elderly woman using a walker as well as running over other protesters with horses. Numerous others were tear-gassed. Around the world, individuals reacted with disgust to the “tyranny” on display in the Western nation.
The Daily Wire reported Friday that the authorities’ aggressive push to clear Ottawa of the truckers started Friday afternoon, but by dusk had turned violent:
Police began making arrests and towing vehicles. Several hours into the sweep, police have arrested at least 70 protesters and removed over 20 vehicles, according to the Ottawa Police Department. Later in the afternoon, police broke out heavy crowd control tactics such as horses, clubs, and tear gas to push the protesters back.
Several of those instances were caught on camera.
“Remember this image. Remember what Trudeau did to Canada,” internet commentator Ian Miles Cheong tweeted, reportedly showing a picture of two protesters, one next to a walking device, knocked to the ground by law enforcement’s horses.
Remember this image. Remember what Trudeau did to Canada. pic.twitter.com/Z5b3kfWK1y
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 18, 2022
Video obtained by Cheong appeared to confirm that event. “Trudeau is stamping out freedom. One trampled protester at a time,” he added. “Remember Ottawa.”
Trudeau is stamping out freedom. One trampled protester at a time.
Remember Ottawa. pic.twitter.com/dkA9GRV2A5
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 19, 2022
Ottawa authorities denied that they trampled anybody, but rather that a horse was spooked by a bicycle.
“We hear your concern for people on the ground after the horses dispersed a crowd,” Ottawa police tweeted. “Anyone who fell got up and walked away. We’re unaware of any injuries. A bicycle was thrown at the horse further down the line and caused the horse to trip. The horse was uninjured.”
As Rebel News’ Ezra Levant pointed out, there doesn’t seem to be any video backing that up, and the police likely confused — or willfully lied about, as Levant says — the elderly woman’s walking device.
“You’re liars. You said someone threw a bike at a horse. That’s a lie. It wasn’t a bike, your horse stomped on a woman with a mobility scooter,” Levant responded. “You didn’t disperse a crowd. You charged a group of unarmed civilians.”
“You belong in prison. You dirty, corrupt Trudeau thugs,” he added.
You're liars. You said someone threw a bike at a horse. That's a lie. It wasn't a bike, your horse stomped on a woman with a mobility scooter.
You didn't disperse a crowd. You charged a group of unarmed civilians.
You belong in prison. You dirty, corrupt Trudeau thugs. https://t.co/OCg7GvG1aF
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) February 19, 2022
Cheong also claimed the police were not telling the truth about the event, and had even more evidence to back up his assertions:
Ottawa Police lied. This was the elderly woman trampled by the horses. pic.twitter.com/FGmPoSj9F9
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 19, 2022
In response to the mayhem, there were dozens, if not hundreds, of calls for Trudeau to resign.
“Trudeau must resign,” Human Events and TPUSA personality Jack Posobiec tweeted, amassing nearly 38,000 likes and hundreds of retweets:
Trudeau must resign
— Poso Remembers Ottawa (@JackPosobiec) February 19, 2022
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson also predicted that Trudeau will resign.
“What happened today in Canada was worse than Hong Kong or Ukraine,” Johnson claimed.. “A Western, English-speaking nation turning weapons of war peaceful protesters. Trampling their skulls. Today The Regime broke. They will not survive this. Canada will never be the same. Justin Trudeau will resign.”
What happened today in Canada was worse than Hong Kong or Ukraine.
A Western, English-speaking nation turning weapons of war peaceful protesters. Trampling their skulls.
Today The Regime broke.
They will not survive this.
Canada will never be the same.
Justin Trudeau will resign.— Benny (@bennyjohnson) February 19, 2022
Across the globe in India, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, National Secretary for the Bharatiya Janata Party Youth, the world’s largest youth political organization, also expressed his horror at the images.
“I am not able to eat anything from last 24 hours after watching this video. how can @JustinTrudeauattack his own country people. Justin Converted beautiful Canada into Banana Republic #TrudeauDictatorshipMustGo,” he tweeted on Saturday.
I am not able to eat anything from last 24 hours after watching this video. how can @JustinTrudeau attack his own country people. Justin Converted beautiful Canada into Banana Republic. #TrudeauDictatorshipMustGo pic.twitter.com/WWwgMN4OsV
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) February 19, 2022
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