Flu Trux Klan
January 28, 2022 12:52 PM Subscribe
A anti-vax protest convoy of vehicles reached their destination of Ottawa today. Many exaggerated claims as to the size of the convoy have been made, including the false one of the convoy having set a new Guinness World Record, but according to David Aikin, Chief Political Correspondent for Global News, several police sources put the numbers at: 8 separate convoy captains ("core organizers"); 230 tractors/tractor-trailers & 725 personal vehicles from Toronto and Western Canada; 200 vehicles out of NB/NS; possibly 2000 pedestrians from QC; and an unknown number of other actors. Antihate.ca traces the racist, violent, far right roots of this protest. Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly says there will be numerous police cameras recording Saturday's demonstration and warns this evidence will used to prosecute any crimes that may occur. The protestors have also not applied for a protest permit. Thankfully, an estimated 90% of Canadian truckers are vaccinated, remain on the job, and grocery stores across Canada are currently well-stocked.
as a Canadian who has nothing to do with any of this beyond finding it absurd, I nevertheless apologize.
posted by philip-random at 1:07 PM on January 28, 2022 [84 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 1:07 PM on January 28, 2022 [84 favorites]
I have a few Facebook friends - almost all of them women, for whatever reason - who are very excited and proud about this convoy. It's a swelling of positive emotion for them.
posted by clawsoon at 1:11 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 1:11 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
The Guardian on the protest convoy:
The convoy, which left Vancouver earlier this week, has more than 275,000 supporters on Facebook, nearly 40,000 supporters on the encrypted messaging app Telegram and has raised C$5.5m from 70,000 donations on GoFundMe.
GoFundMe announced earlier this week it had frozen the funds until it could determine with the organizers how the money would be dispersed. One former intelligence analyst said the “speed and anonymity” of the donations has raised red flags.
[....]
One of the main groups behind the protest is Canada Unity which has opposed what it says are “unconstitutional” Covid rules. The group recently posted a “memorandum of understanding” to its website, saying that members plan to present it to politicians on Parliament Hill. The group claims that the leader of the senate and the governor general will sign the document to create a governing committee, which they claim would work to revoke the vaccine mandate.
posted by orange swan at 1:11 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
The convoy, which left Vancouver earlier this week, has more than 275,000 supporters on Facebook, nearly 40,000 supporters on the encrypted messaging app Telegram and has raised C$5.5m from 70,000 donations on GoFundMe.
GoFundMe announced earlier this week it had frozen the funds until it could determine with the organizers how the money would be dispersed. One former intelligence analyst said the “speed and anonymity” of the donations has raised red flags.
[....]
One of the main groups behind the protest is Canada Unity which has opposed what it says are “unconstitutional” Covid rules. The group recently posted a “memorandum of understanding” to its website, saying that members plan to present it to politicians on Parliament Hill. The group claims that the leader of the senate and the governor general will sign the document to create a governing committee, which they claim would work to revoke the vaccine mandate.
posted by orange swan at 1:11 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I can't get over just how much these far-right nutjobs have been coddled, legitimized, and amplified by Conservative politicians and the news media. I've been in bigger protests that got way less attention.
posted by Gerald Bostock at 1:13 PM on January 28, 2022 [67 favorites]
posted by Gerald Bostock at 1:13 PM on January 28, 2022 [67 favorites]
Scrolling Facebook right now, I'm seeing mention of endorsements from Russell Brand, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, and apparently random people from dozens of countries around the world.
posted by clawsoon at 1:15 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 1:15 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I spoke with my sibling last night, lives in Ottawa. I was not expecting the nonchalance: "it's a big joke, no-one is paying attention to these idiots." Meanwhile in the thread on the Tennessee school board decision to ban "Maus" and a comment that it's a "nothing burger".. Am I the hysterical one, or are people being a little overly sanguine about all this bullshit?
posted by elkevelvet at 1:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [30 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 1:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [30 favorites]
Much as I've enjoyed snarking about this, I was also genuinely afraid of what might happen during this protest. I thought it might be Canada's January 6th: a violent event that would be suppressed quickly, but not without some tragic collateral damage. I think things are going to be okay, though. The protest is not that big and Ottawa's police force and security services have had advance notice and seem to have things in hand. These morons, who have no realistic goals nor any plan to achieve anything of note, are mostly just going to parade around Ottawa for a few days and scream about how much they hate Trudeau, and then they're going to toddle back on home and claim that they stood up for freedumb.
At this point the biggest practical concern is that they're impeding traffic, and could prevent EMS vehicles from getting to the scene of an accident. (This has already happened once that I am aware of, in the Toronto area.)
posted by orange swan at 1:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [7 favorites]
At this point the biggest practical concern is that they're impeding traffic, and could prevent EMS vehicles from getting to the scene of an accident. (This has already happened once that I am aware of, in the Toronto area.)
posted by orange swan at 1:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [7 favorites]
I've been in bigger protests that got way less attention.
It's not just Conservatives and the media though, it's clearly also their big trucks (and regular sized vehicles, which are still much larger than actual people). An equivalent protest of pedestrians would absolutely not get this kind of coverage and that's partly because vehicles and especially tractor trailers are way more imposing and disruptive than people. They are using their vehicles to amplify their protest.
posted by ssg at 1:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [11 favorites]
It's not just Conservatives and the media though, it's clearly also their big trucks (and regular sized vehicles, which are still much larger than actual people). An equivalent protest of pedestrians would absolutely not get this kind of coverage and that's partly because vehicles and especially tractor trailers are way more imposing and disruptive than people. They are using their vehicles to amplify their protest.
posted by ssg at 1:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [11 favorites]
The protest is officially about getting vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the border removed.
The wider support is from people who want vaccines mandates in general removed.
posted by clawsoon at 1:20 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
The wider support is from people who want vaccines mandates in general removed.
posted by clawsoon at 1:20 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Am I the hysterical one, or are people being a little overly sanguine about all this bullshit?
Nope. You're appropriately concerned.
MPs Told to Hide From Anti-Vaxxer Convoy by Parliament Security Chief:
On Thursday evening, Sergeant-at-Arms Patrick McDonell, who is responsible for security on Parliament Hill, sent an email to MPs about Saturday’s demonstration. “Solicitations were issued to the online community for Members’ residential addresses in the Ottawa-Gatineau area,” he wrote. “This is known as doxing—a process of finding and publishing personal information about a particular individual on the Internet, usually with malicious intent.”
McDonell offered extraordinary advice to MPs: “Do not get involved and go somewhere safe,” and “close and lock all exterior doors.”
That piece is written by Justin Ling, who has a pretty solid handle on the Canadian far right.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:26 PM on January 28, 2022 [22 favorites]
Nope. You're appropriately concerned.
MPs Told to Hide From Anti-Vaxxer Convoy by Parliament Security Chief:
On Thursday evening, Sergeant-at-Arms Patrick McDonell, who is responsible for security on Parliament Hill, sent an email to MPs about Saturday’s demonstration. “Solicitations were issued to the online community for Members’ residential addresses in the Ottawa-Gatineau area,” he wrote. “This is known as doxing—a process of finding and publishing personal information about a particular individual on the Internet, usually with malicious intent.”
McDonell offered extraordinary advice to MPs: “Do not get involved and go somewhere safe,” and “close and lock all exterior doors.”
That piece is written by Justin Ling, who has a pretty solid handle on the Canadian far right.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:26 PM on January 28, 2022 [22 favorites]
So I live down the street from Parliament Hill (like a number of blocks) where all this is supposed to take place, and it's just going to fail, in my opinion. Ottawa is a pretty government town, a fair chunk of us work for the feds. Not that that means we automatically support them, but we tend not to get involved. These types of protests tend to by and large be ignored by a lot of the public.
"saying that members plan to present it to politicians on Parliament Hill"
None of them will likely be there, not just for safety reasons, but the House isn't sitting right now.
I spoke with my sibling last night, lives in Ottawa. I was not expecting the nonchalance: "it's a big joke, no-one is paying attention to these idiots."
Yeah that sounds like the general vibe around town for sure. That's what I feel. Still not gonna go out though.
posted by aclevername at 1:35 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
"saying that members plan to present it to politicians on Parliament Hill"
None of them will likely be there, not just for safety reasons, but the House isn't sitting right now.
I spoke with my sibling last night, lives in Ottawa. I was not expecting the nonchalance: "it's a big joke, no-one is paying attention to these idiots."
Yeah that sounds like the general vibe around town for sure. That's what I feel. Still not gonna go out though.
posted by aclevername at 1:35 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
My far-Left-but-sadly-decided-to-become-a-TERF acquaintance from BC assures his Twitter audience that vaccinate mandates are how Trudeau is using his autocratic power to further the omnicide, and my acquaintance proudly supports the convoy even if morally repugnant people do as well.
He also considers anti-hate to be Trudeau's secret police.
posted by gwydapllew at 1:37 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
He also considers anti-hate to be Trudeau's secret police.
posted by gwydapllew at 1:37 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
My favourite tweet from last night when the Ku Klux Konvoy passed by our city.
posted by Kitteh at 1:39 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 1:39 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
The number being bruited about the convoy before it reached Ottawa was 50,000 trucks and anywhere from 500,000 to 1.5 million people. At 20 metres per truck (length of truck + distance between trucks), that's a 1000 km convoy. That's longer than the distance between Thunder Bay & Ottawa, or the width of Saskatchewan. Truck cabs also do not have space for 10 people, let alone 30. It's a patently childish exaggeration.
posted by orange swan at 1:39 PM on January 28, 2022 [13 favorites]
posted by orange swan at 1:39 PM on January 28, 2022 [13 favorites]
McDonell offered extraordinary advice to MPs: “Do not get involved and go somewhere safe,” and “close and lock all exterior doors.”
But facing down a mob is an essential piece of Canadian political theatre.
posted by clawsoon at 1:42 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
But facing down a mob is an essential piece of Canadian political theatre.
posted by clawsoon at 1:42 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
If we are giving prizes for thread titles I nominate this thread. Bravo.
posted by Keith Talent at 1:42 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Keith Talent at 1:42 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
Credit for the brilliant #FluTruxKlan hashtag appears to go to this tweet.
posted by allegedly at 1:51 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by allegedly at 1:51 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
some people have waaay to much time on their hands
posted by robbyrobs at 1:52 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by robbyrobs at 1:52 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Ottawa in January: Not the best weather for protesting.
posted by clawsoon at 1:54 PM on January 28, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 1:54 PM on January 28, 2022 [8 favorites]
So I live down the street from Parliament Hill (like a number of blocks) where all this is supposed to take place, and it's just going to fail, in my opinion. Ottawa is a pretty government town, a fair chunk of us work for the feds. Not that that means we automatically support them, but we tend not to get involved. These types of protests tend to by and large be ignored by a lot of the public.
My experience living in a different seat of government (Washington, DC) is that local apathy towards an attention-getting protest won't really affect how the national media covers it. I'd expect conservative media to overplay the size and significance of the protest, and less conservative media to focus more on practical effects (like problems caused by the traffic, and violence started by or because of the protestors) while still giving enough time to the coverage to make protestors and supporting conservatives think they've "won."
Wishing you all as little disruption as possible and if there's violence that it only be the Nazi-punching kind.
posted by fedward at 1:58 PM on January 28, 2022 [10 favorites]
My experience living in a different seat of government (Washington, DC) is that local apathy towards an attention-getting protest won't really affect how the national media covers it. I'd expect conservative media to overplay the size and significance of the protest, and less conservative media to focus more on practical effects (like problems caused by the traffic, and violence started by or because of the protestors) while still giving enough time to the coverage to make protestors and supporting conservatives think they've "won."
Wishing you all as little disruption as possible and if there's violence that it only be the Nazi-punching kind.
posted by fedward at 1:58 PM on January 28, 2022 [10 favorites]
Now in my Facebook feed I've got a little old lady named Judy in Ontario who's baking muffins for all the truckers.
posted by clawsoon at 2:02 PM on January 28, 2022
posted by clawsoon at 2:02 PM on January 28, 2022
The numbers are a mug's game, ultimately.
My feeling is that it has less to do with what will or won't happen on Sunday in Ottawa, even though there's plenty of precedent for very bad shit to go down -- what happens when it's a phalanx (no matter how small the phalanx) of these bozos instead of people acting as an army of one, like the guy who attempted to "arrest" the PM in what the judge described as "...a politically motivated, armed assault intended to intimidate Canada's elected government?"
There's the fact that the leader of the official opposition has indicated his desire to meet with certain people -- people whose open calls for what amounts to a syncretic (if often wildly incoherent) admixture of fascism, racism, eugenics, "alternative medicine," and accelerationism are very much a matter of public record.
It may seem like a confusing and silly gumbo of outlandish ideas. And it is that, at a certain level. But the problem is the traction they're getting at the level of sitting MPs. Pierre Poilevre has literally campaigned on STOP THE GREAT RESET conspiracy mumbo jumbo, for example. You know where the "Great Reset" conspiracy theories come from? They come from people who think the Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a factual historical document.
I dunno. I guess it's less a question of a January 6 au nord unfolding.
It's what the embrace of this horseshit by sitting elected officials who have a very real potential to form the next government means over the long run.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:05 PM on January 28, 2022 [16 favorites]
My feeling is that it has less to do with what will or won't happen on Sunday in Ottawa, even though there's plenty of precedent for very bad shit to go down -- what happens when it's a phalanx (no matter how small the phalanx) of these bozos instead of people acting as an army of one, like the guy who attempted to "arrest" the PM in what the judge described as "...a politically motivated, armed assault intended to intimidate Canada's elected government?"
There's the fact that the leader of the official opposition has indicated his desire to meet with certain people -- people whose open calls for what amounts to a syncretic (if often wildly incoherent) admixture of fascism, racism, eugenics, "alternative medicine," and accelerationism are very much a matter of public record.
It may seem like a confusing and silly gumbo of outlandish ideas. And it is that, at a certain level. But the problem is the traction they're getting at the level of sitting MPs. Pierre Poilevre has literally campaigned on STOP THE GREAT RESET conspiracy mumbo jumbo, for example. You know where the "Great Reset" conspiracy theories come from? They come from people who think the Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a factual historical document.
I dunno. I guess it's less a question of a January 6 au nord unfolding.
It's what the embrace of this horseshit by sitting elected officials who have a very real potential to form the next government means over the long run.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:05 PM on January 28, 2022 [16 favorites]
well clawsoon just shared that there's a little old lady baking muffins so I'm sure we're all just over-reacting
posted by elkevelvet at 2:11 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by elkevelvet at 2:11 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
As someone living in Ottawa, but not especially close to Parliament hill, my current expectation is that I won't really notice anything other than maybe the odd lost truck trying to navigate through narrow, snowy streets. I had originally intended to go downtown as a sort-of counter-protest, mostly just to show that these jokers don't represent the vast majority of us, but the alt-right/fascist undertones and possibility of violence convinced me I'd be much better off just giving this foolish mob a wide berth until they slink away. I really really REALLY hope this is a nothingburger, but even if it's not, I don't see how it could be improved by being anywhere nearby.
posted by Nutri-Matic Drinks Synthesizer at 2:17 PM on January 28, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by Nutri-Matic Drinks Synthesizer at 2:17 PM on January 28, 2022 [6 favorites]
well clawsoon just shared that there's a little old lady baking muffins so I'm sure we're all just over-reacting
The other most popular image about this in my Facebook feed is of a trucker running down Justin Trudeau. I think both of them give a picture of how the protesters see themselves.
(Which has got me thinking about how many hateful ideas have been kept alive by sweet old ladies in small towns baking muffins for the church bake sale.)
posted by clawsoon at 2:17 PM on January 28, 2022 [23 favorites]
The other most popular image about this in my Facebook feed is of a trucker running down Justin Trudeau. I think both of them give a picture of how the protesters see themselves.
(Which has got me thinking about how many hateful ideas have been kept alive by sweet old ladies in small towns baking muffins for the church bake sale.)
posted by clawsoon at 2:17 PM on January 28, 2022 [23 favorites]
Metafilter: a confusing and silly gumbo of outlandish ideas
posted by whatevernot at 2:30 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by whatevernot at 2:30 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men sweet old ladies to do nothing bake muffins.
posted by orange swan at 2:31 PM on January 28, 2022 [27 favorites]
posted by orange swan at 2:31 PM on January 28, 2022 [27 favorites]
The general sentiment among my friends here in Ottawa is this is going to fuck up traffic on a weekend and hopefully not much else. But protests fucking up traffic is nothing new and this isn't a big one. There is an undercurrent of concern about possible violence but since it is Ottawa on a Saturday, buildings are the most likely victims.
My much larger concern is the amount of funds they raised from people who aren't going to be here. That represents a lot of support in a country that didn't do political giving to the extent that the US does.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:38 PM on January 28, 2022 [7 favorites]
My much larger concern is the amount of funds they raised from people who aren't going to be here. That represents a lot of support in a country that didn't do political giving to the extent that the US does.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:38 PM on January 28, 2022 [7 favorites]
Looks like O'Toole [leader of the Conservative Party, for any non-Canadians watching, who has tried to position himself as a moderate] is planning to meet with some of the truckers but not with the organizers. I'm guessing he's trying to gain "salt of the earth" cred while desperately avoiding anything that might get politically complicated.
posted by clawsoon at 2:46 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 2:46 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
NZ perspective, I first heard of this as I follow Alaskan news, seems some went from there too.
Here we have a truly weird amalgam of people who never protest. (some) farmers (convoys of tractors) - plus farmers against clean water!, Qanon remnants, christians (but mainly pentecostals, inc a whole bunch in wife's family - fortunately we don't get on with them), many new agers, white racists, some gang members, too many MPs and councillors, right wing pols in general, some anti-racists ... A Venn diagram would be meaningless as would have too few intersections.
There have been death threats to our PM and many other pols.
I think it's a considered influence campaign (American stirrers linked to Bannon have been identified in some protests) to deligitimise ALL protest as this is weakening the thrust of XR, environment in general, anti-racists, gender rights ... and leading to police treating all protest the same.
posted by unearthed at 2:48 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
Here we have a truly weird amalgam of people who never protest. (some) farmers (convoys of tractors) - plus farmers against clean water!, Qanon remnants, christians (but mainly pentecostals, inc a whole bunch in wife's family - fortunately we don't get on with them), many new agers, white racists, some gang members, too many MPs and councillors, right wing pols in general, some anti-racists ... A Venn diagram would be meaningless as would have too few intersections.
There have been death threats to our PM and many other pols.
I think it's a considered influence campaign (American stirrers linked to Bannon have been identified in some protests) to deligitimise ALL protest as this is weakening the thrust of XR, environment in general, anti-racists, gender rights ... and leading to police treating all protest the same.
posted by unearthed at 2:48 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
There's that yahoo from Manitoba that actually drove to Ottawa to kill Trudeau a few years ago too.
If I were the police in town I'd be taking this very seriously. These are very volatile folks. And way too stupid to understand the consequences of any of their actions.
posted by bonehead at 3:17 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
If I were the police in town I'd be taking this very seriously. These are very volatile folks. And way too stupid to understand the consequences of any of their actions.
posted by bonehead at 3:17 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
vaccinate mandates are how Trudeau is using his autocratic power to further the omnicide
Omnicide? This is something the Trumpists are talking about? One could argue that by doing too little about climate change Trudeau is contributing to omnicide but I doubt that is what they mean.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 3:36 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Omnicide? This is something the Trumpists are talking about? One could argue that by doing too little about climate change Trudeau is contributing to omnicide but I doubt that is what they mean.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 3:36 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Aw man, the Venn diagrams of women who are into my interests and these asshats is intersecting and I am so fucking mad about it. I just read a tweet about the Oh She Glows vegan author and I'm disappointed but not surprised.
posted by Kitteh at 3:41 PM on January 28, 2022 [22 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 3:41 PM on January 28, 2022 [22 favorites]
IIRC, they had a far-right trucker convoy in Australia in the last days of the Gillard government. It seems to be a common trope; perhaps truckers being seen as reservoirs of a virile, volkische authenticity uncontaminated by the pernicious influences of (((the globalists))) or something.
posted by acb at 4:01 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by acb at 4:01 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
Ottawa in January: Not the best weather for protesting.
posted by clawsoon
Ontario, peeps, I got a question. What is actually open - I mean, places people can go to find an open washroom? I've been told that the only food available is take out and that there is a significant shortage of public washrooms around the Parliament buildings because of the Omicron lock down.
For that matter how about places to park lots of large trucks? It's been long enough I don't remember if there would be any parking lots ploughed close enough to where they want to be.
posted by Jane the Brown at 4:13 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by clawsoon
Ontario, peeps, I got a question. What is actually open - I mean, places people can go to find an open washroom? I've been told that the only food available is take out and that there is a significant shortage of public washrooms around the Parliament buildings because of the Omicron lock down.
For that matter how about places to park lots of large trucks? It's been long enough I don't remember if there would be any parking lots ploughed close enough to where they want to be.
posted by Jane the Brown at 4:13 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow, said acquaintance isn't a Trumper. He is a Leftist who has siren his entire life fighting climate change. He is also fully vaccinated and boostered.... he just thinks that Trudeau is a neoliberal lapdog beholden to corporate interests and that mask/vaccine mandates are an attempt to condition Canadians to authoritarian demands.
posted by gwydapllew at 4:20 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by gwydapllew at 4:20 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
Ontario, peeps, I got a question. What is actually open - I mean, places people can go to find an open washroom? I've been told that the only food available is take out and that there is a significant shortage of public washrooms around the Parliament buildings because of the Omicron lock down.
I have it on good authority from random people on Facebook that Ottawa is BUZZING with excitement and LOVE everywhere and churches are opening their doors.
But, more seriously, my impression is that truckers are generally more equipped to deal with lack of washrooms and food as they're travelling than most people are.
posted by clawsoon at 4:32 PM on January 28, 2022 [7 favorites]
I have it on good authority from random people on Facebook that Ottawa is BUZZING with excitement and LOVE everywhere and churches are opening their doors.
But, more seriously, my impression is that truckers are generally more equipped to deal with lack of washrooms and food as they're travelling than most people are.
posted by clawsoon at 4:32 PM on January 28, 2022 [7 favorites]
muffin-washing
posted by clawsoon at 4:32 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 4:32 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Restaurants, if they are open at all, require proof of vaccination to allow entry. That's Doug Ford's law. I don't think anyone is doing sitdown service right now until the restrictions loosen in February. So that's a neat bit of irony there. It is really hard to find a public bathroom open at all anywhere.
There's also no good place to maneuver a class A truck downtown. The trucking firm I used to work for for summer jobs hated having to go downtown.
posted by bonehead at 4:36 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
There's also no good place to maneuver a class A truck downtown. The trucking firm I used to work for for summer jobs hated having to go downtown.
posted by bonehead at 4:36 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have a few Facebook friends - almost all of them women, for whatever reason - who are very excited and proud about this convoy. It's a swelling of positive emotion for them.
Aw man, the Venn diagrams of women who are into my interests and these asshats is intersecting and I am so fucking mad about it.
A high school acquaintance just made some disingenuously wide-eyed comments in a group chat to the effect of "omg, did you guys know how big this is?? media blackout downplaying the numbers?? Trudeau brushing them off as 'fringe'??" Honestly ruined my day. What the fuck.
posted by Rora at 5:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Aw man, the Venn diagrams of women who are into my interests and these asshats is intersecting and I am so fucking mad about it.
A high school acquaintance just made some disingenuously wide-eyed comments in a group chat to the effect of "omg, did you guys know how big this is?? media blackout downplaying the numbers?? Trudeau brushing them off as 'fringe'??" Honestly ruined my day. What the fuck.
posted by Rora at 5:19 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I'm hearing people talking like these guys are salt of the earth blue collar types, you know, fighting for the little guy, but unless their employers are lending out trucks, these have to be owner-operators. The price of a semi truck is in the same range as a Ferrari or Lamborghini sportscar, and truck owner-operators in Canada pull like 100-300k a year.
posted by rodlymight at 5:28 PM on January 28, 2022 [18 favorites]
posted by rodlymight at 5:28 PM on January 28, 2022 [18 favorites]
For that matter how about places to park lots of large trucks?
Won't they just park them in the middle of the street? They're there to create a scene and it isn't as if there are enough large tow trucks around to do anything about it, plus the drivers of those might be a part of the convoy too. Plus how busy is Ottawa going to be over the weekend in January, with or without Covid restrictions?
IIRC, they had a far-right trucker convoy in Australia in the last days of the Gillard government. It seems to be a common trope; perhaps truckers being seen as reservoirs of a virile, volkische authenticity uncontaminated by the pernicious influences of (((the globalists))) or something.
In my mind most truckers are South Asian but it's probably something like 10% in reality.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 5:30 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Won't they just park them in the middle of the street? They're there to create a scene and it isn't as if there are enough large tow trucks around to do anything about it, plus the drivers of those might be a part of the convoy too. Plus how busy is Ottawa going to be over the weekend in January, with or without Covid restrictions?
IIRC, they had a far-right trucker convoy in Australia in the last days of the Gillard government. It seems to be a common trope; perhaps truckers being seen as reservoirs of a virile, volkische authenticity uncontaminated by the pernicious influences of (((the globalists))) or something.
In my mind most truckers are South Asian but it's probably something like 10% in reality.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 5:30 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I don't think they are planning to park anything, just pull them up and block roads with them. There are some truck stops out in anti-vaxx country that they are staging from.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:39 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 5:39 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
he just thinks that Trudeau is a neoliberal lapdog beholden to corporate interests and that mask/vaccine mandates are an attempt to condition Canadians to authoritarian demands.
Your ideas are intriguing and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
posted by theorique at 5:43 PM on January 28, 2022
Your ideas are intriguing and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
posted by theorique at 5:43 PM on January 28, 2022
If you thought muffin grannies were bad, now I'm seeing adorable children with their hand-drawn "freedom convoy 2022" pictures who are happy that the truckers are going to free them from tyranny and let them see their friends again.
There are definitely mental health issues arising from the lockdowns that haven't been handled very well and that we need to think about how to do better if we ever need to do this again. The convoy seems to be giving its supporters a catharsis.
Also, I've never read the word "bless" this much in my life.
posted by clawsoon at 5:48 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
There are definitely mental health issues arising from the lockdowns that haven't been handled very well and that we need to think about how to do better if we ever need to do this again. The convoy seems to be giving its supporters a catharsis.
Also, I've never read the word "bless" this much in my life.
posted by clawsoon at 5:48 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
Restaurants, if they are open at all, require proof of vaccination to allow entry.
One by one all the downtown businesses I follow on facebook are saying that they are going to be closed tomorrow just to be safe.
posted by aclevername at 5:49 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
One by one all the downtown businesses I follow on facebook are saying that they are going to be closed tomorrow just to be safe.
posted by aclevername at 5:49 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
My hometown (Niagara Bible belt, Kid Oosterhoff's riding) had a staging/support rally yesterday morning. Lots of truckers, but many more families. Families with school-aged kids, kids as young as three holdings signs. Homeschooling is popular in that community, so I guess they had a field trip.
They were out there all morning. The wind was bitterly cold and harsh, and word is that everyone looked miserable.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:50 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
They were out there all morning. The wind was bitterly cold and harsh, and word is that everyone looked miserable.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:50 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
So I guess I'm confused, why are they going to parliament to protest that the US won't let them in? surely they should be going to DC? (except of course that the US wont let them in) I could understand them going to the US embassy
posted by mbo at 5:59 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by mbo at 5:59 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
There are definitely mental health issues arising from the lockdowns that haven't been handled very well
I am feeling this the last couple of weeks for sure. We've put ourselves in lockdown since mid December to avoid omicron, and I'm starting to fray around the edges. My (telehealth) therapist is a lifeline.
That said, I'm not going to join a convoy to relieve the stress. Tempting, perhaps, but no.
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 6:02 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
I am feeling this the last couple of weeks for sure. We've put ourselves in lockdown since mid December to avoid omicron, and I'm starting to fray around the edges. My (telehealth) therapist is a lifeline.
That said, I'm not going to join a convoy to relieve the stress. Tempting, perhaps, but no.
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 6:02 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
A friend pointed out that it's not a real convoy unless it has an orangutan ...... but it does have an orange ape mascot
posted by mbo at 6:12 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mbo at 6:12 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
If it doesn’t have pigpen and the rubber duck, it isn’t much of a convoy.
posted by dr_dank at 6:15 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 6:15 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
The best ones are these dipshit "friends" of mine out here in BC in one breath opposing the logging of Fairy Creek and other old growth, right before immediately turning around to rah-rah these "fifty-thousand" truckers burning however much diesel fuel it takes to get from here all the way to Ottawa....
posted by wats at 6:20 PM on January 28, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by wats at 6:20 PM on January 28, 2022 [8 favorites]
Families with school-aged kids, kids as young as three holdings signs. Homeschooling is popular in that community, so I guess they had a field trip.
Kinder, küche, kirche.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2022 [21 favorites]
Kinder, küche, kirche.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2022 [21 favorites]
So I guess I'm confused, why are they going to parliament to protest that the US won't let them in?
I believe it's that Canada won't let them back in from the US without a 14-day quarantine unless they're vaccinated.
posted by clawsoon at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I believe it's that Canada won't let them back in from the US without a 14-day quarantine unless they're vaccinated.
posted by clawsoon at 6:22 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I'm in Ottawa, not central downtown but not that far from there. For the most part this is nothing but "a oh well another protest/event/whatever clogging up downtown, guess I'll avoid that this weekend". I have some friends whose kids have to miss some ski races in Gatineau because the bridges are probably going to be blocked, and we are planning on doing our cross-country skiing this weekend on this side of the river for the same reason.
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
I believe it's that Canada won't let them back in from the US without a 14-day quarantine unless they're vaccinated
The US won’t let them in if they aren’t vaccinated either, they have the same border rules, so all these idiots protesting can’t cross the border anyways.
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:46 PM on January 28, 2022 [11 favorites]
The US won’t let them in if they aren’t vaccinated either, they have the same border rules, so all these idiots protesting can’t cross the border anyways.
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:46 PM on January 28, 2022 [11 favorites]
They seem nice. Very fine people...
Justin Ling (via Twitter):
And here's what appears to be a guy losing it on the owner of an Ottawa hotel, just trying to do his job. (Video appears to be legit, although quick factcheck: It's -19°, you whiner, not -30°.)
That's in reference to this video:
This happened at a friend's workplace an hour ago, here in Ottawa. Guy then came back in and physically assaulted the hotel owner. Fuck anti maskers and fuck this convoy
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:21 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
Justin Ling (via Twitter):
And here's what appears to be a guy losing it on the owner of an Ottawa hotel, just trying to do his job. (Video appears to be legit, although quick factcheck: It's -19°, you whiner, not -30°.)
That's in reference to this video:
This happened at a friend's workplace an hour ago, here in Ottawa. Guy then came back in and physically assaulted the hotel owner. Fuck anti maskers and fuck this convoy
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:21 PM on January 28, 2022 [9 favorites]
This happened at a friend's workplace an hour ago, here in Ottawa. Guy then came back in and physically assaulted the hotel owner. Fuck anti maskers and fuck this convoy
On the public convoy Facebook group I saw somebody - one of the organizers, I'm guessing? - saying that they'd booked hotel rooms in Ottawa so that they could stay until the mandate gets lifted.
I guess they didn't quite think that through?
posted by clawsoon at 7:31 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
On the public convoy Facebook group I saw somebody - one of the organizers, I'm guessing? - saying that they'd booked hotel rooms in Ottawa so that they could stay until the mandate gets lifted.
I guess they didn't quite think that through?
posted by clawsoon at 7:31 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
he just thinks that Trudeau is a neoliberal lapdog beholden to corporate interests and that mask/vaccine mandates are an attempt to condition Canadians to authoritarian demands.
Starts out strong, then takes an unfortunate direction by the end.
posted by RobotHero at 7:40 PM on January 28, 2022 [14 favorites]
Starts out strong, then takes an unfortunate direction by the end.
posted by RobotHero at 7:40 PM on January 28, 2022 [14 favorites]
The convoy is misguided and is organized by some pretty repugnant people, but there are lots of relatively innocent tagalongs enthusiastically mixing in with a few bad apples.
Everyone who is getting absolutely furious about this protest is playing right into the organizers hands - they WANT people to get mad at them, to yell and attack them. They WANT it, because it will draw more people to their neofascist platform... when really it's just two or three hundred trucks and cars on a road trip.
So, I have chosen to cheer on their silly adventure while quietly despising the bigots sprinkled among them.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:43 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
Everyone who is getting absolutely furious about this protest is playing right into the organizers hands - they WANT people to get mad at them, to yell and attack them. They WANT it, because it will draw more people to their neofascist platform... when really it's just two or three hundred trucks and cars on a road trip.
So, I have chosen to cheer on their silly adventure while quietly despising the bigots sprinkled among them.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:43 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
Please do not cheer for the fascist endeavor.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:54 PM on January 28, 2022 [63 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:54 PM on January 28, 2022 [63 favorites]
CynicalKnight, are you unfamiliar with how the phrase "a few bad apples..." actually ends?
posted by peppermind at 8:21 PM on January 28, 2022 [42 favorites]
posted by peppermind at 8:21 PM on January 28, 2022 [42 favorites]
I'm reminded of the 1979 Tractorcade, when farmers converged on DC to protest.
posted by Rash at 8:27 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 8:27 PM on January 28, 2022 [1 favorite]
The national media effort to pretend that this small protest (belying a big grift) is actually something epochal extends to frequently tiresome Canadaland supremo Jesse Brown, who solemnly tweeted 'There are good reasons to ridicule the convoy in Ottawa, but "it's too small a protest" isn't one of them.'
posted by senor biggles at 8:30 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by senor biggles at 8:30 PM on January 28, 2022 [5 favorites]
It would have been a great prank to station a couple of pesticide sprayer trucks on a highway overpass as the convoy went by, manned by people in hazmat suits, and then a little farther down the highway have big signs saying "YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED BY THE MRNA TRUCKS, THANK YOU FOR COOPERATING". And have the trucks hightail it out of there before anyone can circle back to investigate. Just imagine the nocebo symptoms it would cause.
Ah, well.
posted by allegedly at 8:40 PM on January 28, 2022 [32 favorites]
Ah, well.
posted by allegedly at 8:40 PM on January 28, 2022 [32 favorites]
are you unfamiliar with how the phrase "a few bad apples..." actually ends?
To put it another way, the relentless convergence of so many global... difficulties... has spurred me to slip my head gently into the warm summer sand and refuse to remove it unless cruising up and down Wellington tooting air horns turns into smashed windows and feces on the bust of Pierre.
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:04 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
To put it another way, the relentless convergence of so many global... difficulties... has spurred me to slip my head gently into the warm summer sand and refuse to remove it unless cruising up and down Wellington tooting air horns turns into smashed windows and feces on the bust of Pierre.
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:04 PM on January 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
frequently tiresome Canadaland supremo Jesse Brown, who
I'm not alone.
posted by philip-random at 9:49 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I'm not alone.
posted by philip-random at 9:49 PM on January 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
Everyone who is getting absolutely furious about this protest
Personally, I'm not seeing a lot of fury. Resignation, annoyance and worry about the divisions in our country, but I have not seen much fury.
posted by aclevername at 10:36 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
Personally, I'm not seeing a lot of fury. Resignation, annoyance and worry about the divisions in our country, but I have not seen much fury.
posted by aclevername at 10:36 PM on January 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
Doorknobs on parade.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 1:47 AM on January 29, 2022
posted by GallonOfAlan at 1:47 AM on January 29, 2022
Many exaggerated claims as to the size of the convoy have been made
A woman I have known for forty years is, to judge from her Facebook feed, an individual not inclined to question anything that confirms her existing guesswork. A few days ago she was trumpeting gleefully how there were 12,000 tractor trailers and she had checked when they were passing near her, so she was going to be on the bridge over the highway at 10:35 to cheer them on!!!
Luckily a few of her Facebook friends are a bit more grounded in reality and even before I saw this, more than one person gently explained to her that if there were twelve thousand of any vehicle passing by, you wouldn’t need to be be there at 10:35. You’d have... quite a few hours.
This brought forth protestations that of course the mainstream media is covering up the scale of it, and oddly she turned to police reports for support, pointing to Ontario Provincial Police tweets that warned of traffic jams. These same tweets put the number of trucks at 113. Aha! More evidence that the OPP has become woke!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:21 AM on January 29, 2022 [9 favorites]
A woman I have known for forty years is, to judge from her Facebook feed, an individual not inclined to question anything that confirms her existing guesswork. A few days ago she was trumpeting gleefully how there were 12,000 tractor trailers and she had checked when they were passing near her, so she was going to be on the bridge over the highway at 10:35 to cheer them on!!!
Luckily a few of her Facebook friends are a bit more grounded in reality and even before I saw this, more than one person gently explained to her that if there were twelve thousand of any vehicle passing by, you wouldn’t need to be be there at 10:35. You’d have... quite a few hours.
This brought forth protestations that of course the mainstream media is covering up the scale of it, and oddly she turned to police reports for support, pointing to Ontario Provincial Police tweets that warned of traffic jams. These same tweets put the number of trucks at 113. Aha! More evidence that the OPP has become woke!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:21 AM on January 29, 2022 [9 favorites]
I remember the anti-war protest I went to in DC in... 2008, I believe. Maybe 2009. We shipped ourselves over from a tiny college in New Jersey. Hundreds of thousands of people showed up. I forget exactly how many, but it was a relative horde.
As far as I can tell, it was never covered on any news channel, or by any major outlet. Why would it? The war wasn't about to end, Obama was president, and hippie protesters gonna hippie protest. Something like that. The people were there, but the interest is not.
So much of the investigation into QAnon suggests that a major draw for it is just the video-game-esque excitement of it all. The harder it gets to follow, the more fun it is for the sort of person who really wants to unpack it. That, mixed with the promise of explaining the world, providing an answer for why so much seems to happen but so little seems to change... and, with that answer, a promise of salvation, a hint that maybe this unlikely strange thing might hold a secret power that could unsettle the Earth at its foundation.
The anti-war protest never had that. Never a promise of power, never a suggestion of secrets, never really a hope for salvation. But the QAnoners had it, and the anti-vaxxers have it, and clearly whatever caught the base's interests also speaks to the Jordan Petersons and Elon Musks and Russell Brands of the world, all of whom find this spurious narrative of anti-liberty far more interesting than the realer and duller story where all of them are grinding away, not passionately but tediously, against the stuff that might offer us a brighter tomorrow.
The trucks are fitting, and I agree with the idea that the trucks are getting media attention in a way that people on foot wouldn't. Because it's not about whether or not these people represent The People, any more than the lack of attention to that 2008-2009 protest had anything to do with whether or not The People were sick and tired of that fake fucking war. It's about that childish spark, that bored and borderline-sociopathic search for interest, not in the sense of deep and rewarding curiosity but in the sense of finding just that little bit of stimulation, that little jolt to paper over the gnawing empty, like frying ants with a magnifying glass or bullying someone who can't fight back or whatever other way you find to get yourself off when you lack imagination or the patience to develop a sense of wonder.
To the extent that I can muster empathy for this extremely stupid, corrosive, and dangerous behavior—and it's a limited extent, because it will only make things worse, and it doesn't come from a lovely place—it's that the world is not in a great place, our governments haven't earned a lot of trust, and I understand people who want to spite their face, even if cutting off their noses to do it would be like... wait, I just used that one, sorry.
But of course even that's a shallow take, because the anti-government kneejerk impulse is really a response to groups of people who, for 40+ years, have tried to destroy every functioning part of whichever governments they belong to, either actively or reactively, either by tearing things down or by buying into the austerity narratives and "efficiency" what-have-yous that mean continuously making it harder to get anything done, and harder to earn any kind of trust to begin with. And that limited empathy also has to acknowledge the awareness that all this shit will only destroy faith in government further, erode our faith in our own societies and communities, and give rise to ever-increasing waves of people who reject the common good by gnawing away at it further, until eventually we come to our senses and remember that nihilistic despair feels good but never leads anywhere better.
And yeah, I think it's misleading to think that this is some kind of working-class whatever. That's patronizing on two fronts, I think: it presumes that working-class people are all completely ignorant and apathetic and childish in a way that the white-collar sorts aren't, and it totally underestimates how many people with houses and business-professional wear never got over that inner ant-torturer child, or that dangerous willingness to buy into whatever superstitions sound fun.
posted by rorgy at 4:42 AM on January 29, 2022 [24 favorites]
As far as I can tell, it was never covered on any news channel, or by any major outlet. Why would it? The war wasn't about to end, Obama was president, and hippie protesters gonna hippie protest. Something like that. The people were there, but the interest is not.
So much of the investigation into QAnon suggests that a major draw for it is just the video-game-esque excitement of it all. The harder it gets to follow, the more fun it is for the sort of person who really wants to unpack it. That, mixed with the promise of explaining the world, providing an answer for why so much seems to happen but so little seems to change... and, with that answer, a promise of salvation, a hint that maybe this unlikely strange thing might hold a secret power that could unsettle the Earth at its foundation.
The anti-war protest never had that. Never a promise of power, never a suggestion of secrets, never really a hope for salvation. But the QAnoners had it, and the anti-vaxxers have it, and clearly whatever caught the base's interests also speaks to the Jordan Petersons and Elon Musks and Russell Brands of the world, all of whom find this spurious narrative of anti-liberty far more interesting than the realer and duller story where all of them are grinding away, not passionately but tediously, against the stuff that might offer us a brighter tomorrow.
The trucks are fitting, and I agree with the idea that the trucks are getting media attention in a way that people on foot wouldn't. Because it's not about whether or not these people represent The People, any more than the lack of attention to that 2008-2009 protest had anything to do with whether or not The People were sick and tired of that fake fucking war. It's about that childish spark, that bored and borderline-sociopathic search for interest, not in the sense of deep and rewarding curiosity but in the sense of finding just that little bit of stimulation, that little jolt to paper over the gnawing empty, like frying ants with a magnifying glass or bullying someone who can't fight back or whatever other way you find to get yourself off when you lack imagination or the patience to develop a sense of wonder.
To the extent that I can muster empathy for this extremely stupid, corrosive, and dangerous behavior—and it's a limited extent, because it will only make things worse, and it doesn't come from a lovely place—it's that the world is not in a great place, our governments haven't earned a lot of trust, and I understand people who want to spite their face, even if cutting off their noses to do it would be like... wait, I just used that one, sorry.
But of course even that's a shallow take, because the anti-government kneejerk impulse is really a response to groups of people who, for 40+ years, have tried to destroy every functioning part of whichever governments they belong to, either actively or reactively, either by tearing things down or by buying into the austerity narratives and "efficiency" what-have-yous that mean continuously making it harder to get anything done, and harder to earn any kind of trust to begin with. And that limited empathy also has to acknowledge the awareness that all this shit will only destroy faith in government further, erode our faith in our own societies and communities, and give rise to ever-increasing waves of people who reject the common good by gnawing away at it further, until eventually we come to our senses and remember that nihilistic despair feels good but never leads anywhere better.
And yeah, I think it's misleading to think that this is some kind of working-class whatever. That's patronizing on two fronts, I think: it presumes that working-class people are all completely ignorant and apathetic and childish in a way that the white-collar sorts aren't, and it totally underestimates how many people with houses and business-professional wear never got over that inner ant-torturer child, or that dangerous willingness to buy into whatever superstitions sound fun.
posted by rorgy at 4:42 AM on January 29, 2022 [24 favorites]
Update on the toilet front, both the city of Ottawa and the protesters are setting up porta poties.
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:12 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:12 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Looks like neither Neil Young nor Joni Mitchell will be joining the convoy any time soon.
posted by clawsoon at 6:24 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 6:24 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
The general sentiment among my friends here in Ottawa is this is going to fuck up traffic on a weekend
My impression was that the traffic in Ottawa is fucked up all... the... time. I can't imagine what effect an influx of tractor-trailers in January weather is going to have.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:28 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
My impression was that the traffic in Ottawa is fucked up all... the... time. I can't imagine what effect an influx of tractor-trailers in January weather is going to have.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:28 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Enh, now that a huge proportion of Ottawa workers are working from home, traffic is a breeze.
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:33 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:33 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
My iPhone’s mapping app has the road closed on Wellington for several blocks in front of Parliament. I guess the truckheads will have to putter around on Laurier and Albert and the like, a couple of blocks away. Small scope for iconic photo ops there.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:34 AM on January 29, 2022
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:34 AM on January 29, 2022
And yeah, I think it's misleading to think that this is some kind of working-class whatever. That's patronizing on two fronts, I think: it presumes that working-class people are all completely ignorant and apathetic and childish in a way that the white-collar sorts aren't, and it totally underestimates how many people with houses and business-professional wear never got over that inner ant-torturer child, or that dangerous willingness to buy into whatever superstitions sound fun.
This.
Contrast, for another Canadian example, the huge organizing efforts among tenants against renovictions and the financialization of housing, and for rent control/moratoriums on rent increases and evictions during the pandemic, through the Herongate Tenant Coalition in Ottawa, Parkdale Organize in Toronto, and various ACORN groups in other areas.
It’s a pretty safe bet that the groups representing the working class are not the ones getting thousands of dollar anonymous donations on their shady GoFundMes.
posted by eviemath at 6:42 AM on January 29, 2022 [13 favorites]
This.
Contrast, for another Canadian example, the huge organizing efforts among tenants against renovictions and the financialization of housing, and for rent control/moratoriums on rent increases and evictions during the pandemic, through the Herongate Tenant Coalition in Ottawa, Parkdale Organize in Toronto, and various ACORN groups in other areas.
It’s a pretty safe bet that the groups representing the working class are not the ones getting thousands of dollar anonymous donations on their shady GoFundMes.
posted by eviemath at 6:42 AM on January 29, 2022 [13 favorites]
But of course even that's a shallow take, because the anti-government kneejerk impulse is really a response to groups of people who, for 40+ years, have tried to destroy every functioning part of whichever governments they belong to, either actively or reactively, either by tearing things down or by buying into the austerity narratives and "efficiency" what-have-yous that mean continuously making it harder to get anything done, and harder to earn any kind of trust to begin with.
Also important to note that many of the supposedly grassroots organizers of events such as the FluTruxKlan road rally are not the rubes in this scenario, but are some of the same people who have been actively working to destroy the functioning parts of whichever governments.
posted by eviemath at 6:46 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Also important to note that many of the supposedly grassroots organizers of events such as the FluTruxKlan road rally are not the rubes in this scenario, but are some of the same people who have been actively working to destroy the functioning parts of whichever governments.
posted by eviemath at 6:46 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Conservatives confident supporting a convoy of angry, far-right protestors descending on Capital won’t blow up in their faces this time [sl: Beaverton]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:26 AM on January 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:26 AM on January 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
I've been refreshing the Hill Cam -- an old live feed showing Parliament Hill - and so far it's looking small.
posted by aclevername at 7:42 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by aclevername at 7:42 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
I'm having problems tearing myself away from the Facebook groups. As an American, I'm disappointed that it isn't more uniqely Canadian. There are American flags being posted, and many of the slogans feel very USA! USA! USA! to me ("Land of the free" painted on the sides of truck, screenshotted posts warning about Antifa infiltrators, prayers, whatever this style of art is called). I didn't realize how widespread this aesthetic is.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:13 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:13 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
I've been refreshing the Hill Cam -- an old live feed showing Parliament Hill - and so far it's looking small.
To me that looks to be at least eighteen million people standing up for freedom, and not the... several hundred that a careful count might suggest.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:24 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
To me that looks to be at least eighteen million people standing up for freedom, and not the... several hundred that a careful count might suggest.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:24 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
whatever this style of art is called
Batshit Moderne.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:27 AM on January 29, 2022 [13 favorites]
Batshit Moderne.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:27 AM on January 29, 2022 [13 favorites]
I've been refreshing the Hill Cam
I like that pic, eh? Those cranes make It look like Parliament has wings.
posted by valkane at 8:29 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I like that pic, eh? Those cranes make It look like Parliament has wings.
posted by valkane at 8:29 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
whatever this style of art is called
Batshit Moderne.
Yeah, it definitely has the flavour of those "Jesus comforts Trump in the Oval Office" paintings. I've seen the image you linked a few times now and it raises questions: what body of water are those trucks parting?
It can't be the Red Sea. Maybe Lake Superior?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:30 AM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Batshit Moderne.
Yeah, it definitely has the flavour of those "Jesus comforts Trump in the Oval Office" paintings. I've seen the image you linked a few times now and it raises questions: what body of water are those trucks parting?
It can't be the Red Sea. Maybe Lake Superior?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:30 AM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Does Lake Superior have sharks the size of trucks? Maybe it does.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:33 AM on January 29, 2022
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:33 AM on January 29, 2022
RE the millions in the GoFundMe: Antihate.ca has a deep dive on the organizers of the GoFundMe me and they not only aren't truck drivers they also have extensive ties to far right and hate groups like the Yellow Vests Canada, the Diagolon network, and white supremacy group Canada First. Also includes profile of Alberta convoy leader Pat King who is just ugh.
posted by Mitheral at 8:33 AM on January 29, 2022 [14 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 8:33 AM on January 29, 2022 [14 favorites]
Update on the toilet front, both the city of Ottawa and the protesters are setting up porta poties.
*Kodos/Kang voice*
"Publicly-funded porta-potties for all!"
"Boo!"
"Very well, no porta-potties for anyone!"
"Boo!"
"Very well, porta-potties for some, Freedom Buckets for others!"
"Yay!"
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:34 AM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
*Kodos/Kang voice*
"Publicly-funded porta-potties for all!"
"Boo!"
"Very well, no porta-potties for anyone!"
"Boo!"
"Very well, porta-potties for some, Freedom Buckets for others!"
"Yay!"
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:34 AM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
Opposition to vaccine or mask mandates is not intrinsically a far-right political position. So where does this whole situation leave those of us who are (1) not far-right and (2) opposed to vaccine and mask mandates?
It feels like we are refugees around this issue now.
posted by theorique at 9:02 AM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
It feels like we are refugees around this issue now.
posted by theorique at 9:02 AM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Does Lake Superior have sharks the size of trucks?
Maybe they were inspired by Huskie the Muskie when they got to Kenora.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:02 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Maybe they were inspired by Huskie the Muskie when they got to Kenora.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:02 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Opposition to vaccine or mask mandates is not intrinsically a far-right politic1al position.
Agreed. Many of my friends, family and acquaintances who are against the vaccine mandate (and several who support this convoy) are otherwise what I would consider left wing.
posted by aclevername at 9:06 AM on January 29, 2022
Agreed. Many of my friends, family and acquaintances who are against the vaccine mandate (and several who support this convoy) are otherwise what I would consider left wing.
posted by aclevername at 9:06 AM on January 29, 2022
All these anti-vax monkeys seem to gloss over the fact that they were vaccinated at birth, at one month, at two months, at three months, at six months, at a year, at two, at three -- anything they call a "well baby visit" well big shocker, you got vaccinated. No one fucking asked if you wanted to be vaxxed, you just were, you got vaxxed against a dozen diseases, with two or three boosters for each, because as a society we've agreed that having people not die from preventable disease is a pretty cool thing.
Stand down, idiots, and take your god damn shots for the team.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:27 AM on January 29, 2022 [30 favorites]
Stand down, idiots, and take your god damn shots for the team.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:27 AM on January 29, 2022 [30 favorites]
If you look around the anti-mandate meeting and think “Everyone here is an asshole except me,” it might be time to do some self-reflection.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:39 AM on January 29, 2022 [28 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:39 AM on January 29, 2022 [28 favorites]
Let me tell you: as a native Southerner, there are an alarming amount of Confederate flags in Canada. Every time I see one, I go, what in the actual hell
posted by Kitteh at 9:40 AM on January 29, 2022 [13 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 9:40 AM on January 29, 2022 [13 favorites]
Opposition to vaccine or mask mandates is not intrinsically a far-right political position.
True. I’d say that three-quarters of the opponents I know are moderate-to-progressive-leaning and their stance is the “I’m not paying Big Pharma money to put that chemical mixture into my kids’ veins,” with a minor in “the media and the government are working to keep us divided.” Only a few are into the “it’s a massive plan to depopulate the world so that the billionaires can run their child prostitution rings out of pizza parlours unopposed.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:41 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
True. I’d say that three-quarters of the opponents I know are moderate-to-progressive-leaning and their stance is the “I’m not paying Big Pharma money to put that chemical mixture into my kids’ veins,” with a minor in “the media and the government are working to keep us divided.” Only a few are into the “it’s a massive plan to depopulate the world so that the billionaires can run their child prostitution rings out of pizza parlours unopposed.”
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:41 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Could we just across the board not call people animal names?
posted by away for regrooving at 9:41 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by away for regrooving at 9:41 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Does Lake Superior have sharks the size of trucks? Maybe it does.
They’re toy trucks and it’s actually just someone’s bathtub.
posted by eviemath at 9:45 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
They’re toy trucks and it’s actually just someone’s bathtub.
posted by eviemath at 9:45 AM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Yeah, it's insulting to monkeys to be compared to anti-vax idiots.
posted by Reverend John at 9:45 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Reverend John at 9:45 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
It feels like we are refugees around this issue now.
It feels like you’ve been driven from your home on threat of death? Huh. Maybe there’s some sort of individual responsibility solution for that that you could pursue.
posted by eviemath at 9:48 AM on January 29, 2022 [27 favorites]
It feels like you’ve been driven from your home on threat of death? Huh. Maybe there’s some sort of individual responsibility solution for that that you could pursue.
posted by eviemath at 9:48 AM on January 29, 2022 [27 favorites]
I was down at the St. Lawrence Market this morning, and it physically hurt to stand outside for the 10 minutes it took to eat a peameal sandwich and drink a coffee.
So yeah- have fun at your protest, boys.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:51 AM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
So yeah- have fun at your protest, boys.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:51 AM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
Now I want a St. Lawrence peameal sandwich. But it's too covid outside to go out.
posted by whatevernot at 9:54 AM on January 29, 2022 [14 favorites]
posted by whatevernot at 9:54 AM on January 29, 2022 [14 favorites]
The real caravan is on Facebook, is what strikes me here. Millions of people are engaging with this manufactured event through manufactured social media feeds, and they'll come away with memories of how big and brave and exciting it was. The stirring tale of 10,000 trucks will crush the niggling reality of 113 trucks. A damp squib of a day in Ottawa hardly matters.
And some number of lefty anti-vaxxers will follow the trucks and enter the fascism pipeline.
To state the obvious, social-media propaganda is a serious problem and getting worse as the techniques are refined and the companies don't care.
posted by away for regrooving at 9:58 AM on January 29, 2022 [29 favorites]
And some number of lefty anti-vaxxers will follow the trucks and enter the fascism pipeline.
To state the obvious, social-media propaganda is a serious problem and getting worse as the techniques are refined and the companies don't care.
posted by away for regrooving at 9:58 AM on January 29, 2022 [29 favorites]
It's weirdly pleasing to see people in Toronto comment on social media about the story that is currently front and centre on the websites of the CBC, the Star, the Sun, the Post and the Globe and Mail (as well as being the only thing all day on CBC One, Radio-Canada and RDE) is not being covered in the media!!!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:09 AM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:09 AM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
→
I'm with Jessica Davis (head of Insight Threat Intelligence) who is quoted in the same article as saying:
posted by scruss at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
Canada Unity ... recently posted a “memorandum of understanding” to its website
I'm with Jessica Davis (head of Insight Threat Intelligence) who is quoted in the same article as saying:
This document is largely incomprehensible and is completely divorced from our political reality. It's one find and replace away from full-on SovCit mind goo.
posted by scruss at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
peameal sandwich
The fuck is this? *search-click*
OH MY GOD I NEED TO INVADE CANADA FOR BREAKFAST.
posted by loquacious at 11:06 AM on January 29, 2022 [25 favorites]
The fuck is this? *search-click*
OH MY GOD I NEED TO INVADE CANADA FOR BREAKFAST.
posted by loquacious at 11:06 AM on January 29, 2022 [25 favorites]
MetaFilter: largely incomprehensible and completely divorced from our political reality
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:09 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:09 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
I was down at the St. Lawrence Market this morning, and it physically hurt to stand outside for the 10 minutes it took to eat a peameal sandwich and drink a coffee.
This is the most Toronto comment I've ever seen here :)
posted by theorique at 11:17 AM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
This is the most Toronto comment I've ever seen here :)
posted by theorique at 11:17 AM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
OH MY GOD I NEED TO INVADE CANADA FOR BREAKFAST.
Protip: St Lawrence Market also contains the Italian sandwich place Moustachio and also St. Urbain Bagels, either of which will cause diners to rejoice.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:20 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
Protip: St Lawrence Market also contains the Italian sandwich place Moustachio and also St. Urbain Bagels, either of which will cause diners to rejoice.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:20 AM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
Opposition to vaccine or mask mandates is not intrinsically a far-right political position. So where does this whole situation leave those of us who are (1) not far-right and (2) opposed to vaccine and mask mandates?
It feels like we are refugees around this issue now.
Maybe it wasn't intrinsically a far-right position before, but it sure is now. Those people in the convoy? Far-right foot soldiers. The people organizing the convoy, and the anti-mask and anti-vaccine organizations? Far-right provocateurs. Maybe they don't themselves actually believe the bullshit they're peddling, but they're peddling it nonetheless, and business is booming. They, and their compatriots who refuse to vaccinate or mask, are the reason the pandemic is rolling into its third year. Wakefield and his idiot disciples may have been able to reason away their complete lunacy as not being aligned on a left-right axis until as late as early 2020, but no one without an agenda is buying it now, 23 months into a global pandemic that has killed millions of people.
posted by Mayor West at 11:21 AM on January 29, 2022 [30 favorites]
It feels like we are refugees around this issue now.
Maybe it wasn't intrinsically a far-right position before, but it sure is now. Those people in the convoy? Far-right foot soldiers. The people organizing the convoy, and the anti-mask and anti-vaccine organizations? Far-right provocateurs. Maybe they don't themselves actually believe the bullshit they're peddling, but they're peddling it nonetheless, and business is booming. They, and their compatriots who refuse to vaccinate or mask, are the reason the pandemic is rolling into its third year. Wakefield and his idiot disciples may have been able to reason away their complete lunacy as not being aligned on a left-right axis until as late as early 2020, but no one without an agenda is buying it now, 23 months into a global pandemic that has killed millions of people.
posted by Mayor West at 11:21 AM on January 29, 2022 [30 favorites]
theorique: Opposition to vaccine or mask mandates is not intrinsically a far-right political position. So where does this whole situation leave those of us who are (1) not far-right and (2) opposed to vaccine and mask mandates?
It feels like we are refugees around this issue now.
This feels like it has happened to a number of issues that were anti-establishment circa the 2000s, whether they were left-wing or both-wings issues.
posted by clawsoon at 11:33 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
It feels like we are refugees around this issue now.
This feels like it has happened to a number of issues that were anti-establishment circa the 2000s, whether they were left-wing or both-wings issues.
posted by clawsoon at 11:33 AM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
OH MY GOD I NEED TO INVADE CANADA FOR BREAKFAST.
A friend inherited a small island in Lake Huron (Grandparents bought it for a song a long time ago) and the few times I've been able to visit he serves up this stuff and just calls it bacon. I'm in Canada, I'm thinking, so this must be that Canadian Bacon that's advertised with pizza. Later, I discovered they were NOT the same, and this peameal bacon's quite tasty, but I've never seen it in a market in the USA.
Related: American Cheese, aka Velveeta. I once heard this was marketed as Canadian Cheese up north, but I couldn't find any processed cheese product labeled either way up there, the last time I had an opportunity to check -- everything was Kraft Singles.
posted by Rash at 12:03 PM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
A friend inherited a small island in Lake Huron (Grandparents bought it for a song a long time ago) and the few times I've been able to visit he serves up this stuff and just calls it bacon. I'm in Canada, I'm thinking, so this must be that Canadian Bacon that's advertised with pizza. Later, I discovered they were NOT the same, and this peameal bacon's quite tasty, but I've never seen it in a market in the USA.
Related: American Cheese, aka Velveeta. I once heard this was marketed as Canadian Cheese up north, but I couldn't find any processed cheese product labeled either way up there, the last time I had an opportunity to check -- everything was Kraft Singles.
posted by Rash at 12:03 PM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
They, and their compatriots who refuse to vaccinate or mask, are the reason the pandemic is rolling into its third year
Maybe not having easy access to vaccines and testing in countries like my own might have something to do with it too?
Unless you added a silent "in the USA" to the end of that sentence. Which would probably not be true even then because, well, variants, caused by the rest of us not having easy access to, you know, vaccines.
posted by Zumbador at 12:10 PM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
Maybe not having easy access to vaccines and testing in countries like my own might have something to do with it too?
Unless you added a silent "in the USA" to the end of that sentence. Which would probably not be true even then because, well, variants, caused by the rest of us not having easy access to, you know, vaccines.
posted by Zumbador at 12:10 PM on January 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
It’s both. It’s privileged countries getting first dibs on all vaccine supplies, and also privileged people within those countries letting precious doses of those supplies go to waste because they’ve been indulged in their low-information, low-empathy provincialism all their lives.
posted by armeowda at 12:36 PM on January 29, 2022 [19 favorites]
posted by armeowda at 12:36 PM on January 29, 2022 [19 favorites]
This feels like it has happened to a number of issues that were anti-establishment circa the 2000s, whether they were left-wing or both-wings issues.
It's almost like the elites convert class wars into culture wars to protect themselves.
posted by 445supermag at 1:01 PM on January 29, 2022 [12 favorites]
It's almost like the elites convert class wars into culture wars to protect themselves.
posted by 445supermag at 1:01 PM on January 29, 2022 [12 favorites]
We just got back from skating downtown on the canal. Once you get past Pretoria bridge, there starts to be trucks parked along the canal. They are sitting there, idling their engines, honking their horns and waiving to people skating on the canal. The vast majority of skaters are ignoring the trucks, I only saw a couple people wave back. Once you get right downtown, all you can hear is honking and engines gunning. I think they may just be driving in circles around downtown. There are more protestors down on the canal right downtown, they are easy to pick out as they are swathed in Canadian flags, and most of them are walking.
There was a plane circling downtown for the two hours we were skating pulling a sign that said “MANDATE FREEDOM”, but I just heard on the CBC that the airspace downtown has now been closed to all aircraft, including drones.
I feel bad for people living next to where all those idling trucks are.
It is supposed to get down to -30C tonight, so that should be interesting.
posted by fimbulvetr at 1:13 PM on January 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
There was a plane circling downtown for the two hours we were skating pulling a sign that said “MANDATE FREEDOM”, but I just heard on the CBC that the airspace downtown has now been closed to all aircraft, including drones.
I feel bad for people living next to where all those idling trucks are.
It is supposed to get down to -30C tonight, so that should be interesting.
posted by fimbulvetr at 1:13 PM on January 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
A bunch of idiots parked on the grounds of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Since towed, but that is unbelievable disrespect.
The Rideau Centre closed because they couldn’t deal with all the angry anti maskers coming into the mall.
some reports from the downtown circus
Sadly, this circus is all clowns.
posted by fimbulvetr at 1:30 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
The Rideau Centre closed because they couldn’t deal with all the angry anti maskers coming into the mall.
some reports from the downtown circus
Sadly, this circus is all clowns.
posted by fimbulvetr at 1:30 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
The Rideau Centre closed because they couldn’t deal with all the angry anti maskers coming into the mall.
Whoa. The Rideau Centre only ever closes Christmas day I believe.
posted by aclevername at 1:50 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Whoa. The Rideau Centre only ever closes Christmas day I believe.
posted by aclevername at 1:50 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
I don’t think it even closed when an armed gunman shot Nathan Cirillo at the War Memorial a couple of blocks away and then ran into the Parliament buildings. Admittedly, the events may have been over before they could do so that day.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:57 PM on January 29, 2022
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:57 PM on January 29, 2022
I live on the opposite side of the country in a residential neighbourhood of a small northern city. From my house I can currently hear all the very loud horns of the local truckers’ protest. I feel bad for those of you who are within earshot of the Ottawa protest.
I don’t have sympathy for the self identified non-far right folks who are dismayed by the strange bedfellows they’ve discovered in solidarity against mask and vaccine mandates. Masks are scientifically proven to reduce spread. Vaccines are scientifically proven to reduce spread, serious illness, and overtaxing of hospital systems. If you are against those things you’re either deluded or selfish.
Vaccine mandates do not meaningfully limit your rights and freedoms. No one has an intrinsic right to be unvaccinated and eat in a restaurant or go to a gym or go to a big box store or work as a healthcare professional or cross a border. The last time I checked, essential services in Canada were not being withheld from the unvaccinated. You can still access health care, buy groceries, and get educated without being vaccinated! If you choose not to mask or get vaccinated, then accept the consequences. You can access the essentials (and a lot of non essentials), but the rest of us have decided there are some things you don’t get to do because they create too much risk for everyone else and you’re not allowed to put everyone else at risk. That is called living in a society.
I do have immense sympathy for the healthcare workers who are struggling with burnout after two years of coping with COVID while also dealing with angry COVID deniers, anti-maskers, and anti-vaxxers. I have sympathy for grocery store workers and other front line workers, for those of us at all levels of education teaching face to face in crowded classrooms with no guarantee our students are vaccinated.
I had a bigger comment written but I’ll just close by saying I am grieving certain relationships with family members because I can’t respect their selfish decisions during the pandemic. They have shown a blatant lack of critical thinking and regard for other people that I simply can’t reconcile with what I think of as a bare minimum of human decency. I guess I just don’t have infinite reserves of patience and grace, and the pandemic has forced me to acknowledge that.
So no. I don’t have sympathy for anyone who has discovered some of their beliefs align with those of people they consider unsavoury. Maybe this can be a moment of reflection to think about why that might be.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:06 PM on January 29, 2022 [61 favorites]
I don’t have sympathy for the self identified non-far right folks who are dismayed by the strange bedfellows they’ve discovered in solidarity against mask and vaccine mandates. Masks are scientifically proven to reduce spread. Vaccines are scientifically proven to reduce spread, serious illness, and overtaxing of hospital systems. If you are against those things you’re either deluded or selfish.
Vaccine mandates do not meaningfully limit your rights and freedoms. No one has an intrinsic right to be unvaccinated and eat in a restaurant or go to a gym or go to a big box store or work as a healthcare professional or cross a border. The last time I checked, essential services in Canada were not being withheld from the unvaccinated. You can still access health care, buy groceries, and get educated without being vaccinated! If you choose not to mask or get vaccinated, then accept the consequences. You can access the essentials (and a lot of non essentials), but the rest of us have decided there are some things you don’t get to do because they create too much risk for everyone else and you’re not allowed to put everyone else at risk. That is called living in a society.
I do have immense sympathy for the healthcare workers who are struggling with burnout after two years of coping with COVID while also dealing with angry COVID deniers, anti-maskers, and anti-vaxxers. I have sympathy for grocery store workers and other front line workers, for those of us at all levels of education teaching face to face in crowded classrooms with no guarantee our students are vaccinated.
I had a bigger comment written but I’ll just close by saying I am grieving certain relationships with family members because I can’t respect their selfish decisions during the pandemic. They have shown a blatant lack of critical thinking and regard for other people that I simply can’t reconcile with what I think of as a bare minimum of human decency. I guess I just don’t have infinite reserves of patience and grace, and the pandemic has forced me to acknowledge that.
So no. I don’t have sympathy for anyone who has discovered some of their beliefs align with those of people they consider unsavoury. Maybe this can be a moment of reflection to think about why that might be.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:06 PM on January 29, 2022 [61 favorites]
Lunatic fringe
I see you're out there
Not in hiding
You post your special pleadings
posted by house-goblin at 2:38 PM on January 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
I see you're out there
Not in hiding
You post your special pleadings
posted by house-goblin at 2:38 PM on January 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
I can’t respect their selfish decisions during the pandemic. They have shown a blatant lack of critical thinking and regard for other people
Well, they have redefined the terms. The anti- types I know universally pride themselves on being critical thinkers, which they define as rejecting consensus reality where it conflicts with their own guesses.
I even jested with one when she decided to engage with me on Facebook about my sheeple tendencies to listen to the advice of professionals. After she had laid out how she saw clearly what do many others could not, I told her the following joke:
Guy comes home from work. As he walks in the door, his relieved spouse says, “Oh, honey, I am so glad you got home safely! I heard on the news there was some idiot driving the wrong way down the highway.”
Guy says, “One idiot? There were thousands!”
She stewed for a day and then thanked me for proving her point: the guy got home safe and sound.
I guess when your entire personality is built heavily on cognitive dissonance, it’s hard to give that up.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:00 PM on January 29, 2022 [34 favorites]
Well, they have redefined the terms. The anti- types I know universally pride themselves on being critical thinkers, which they define as rejecting consensus reality where it conflicts with their own guesses.
I even jested with one when she decided to engage with me on Facebook about my sheeple tendencies to listen to the advice of professionals. After she had laid out how she saw clearly what do many others could not, I told her the following joke:
Guy comes home from work. As he walks in the door, his relieved spouse says, “Oh, honey, I am so glad you got home safely! I heard on the news there was some idiot driving the wrong way down the highway.”
Guy says, “One idiot? There were thousands!”
She stewed for a day and then thanked me for proving her point: the guy got home safe and sound.
I guess when your entire personality is built heavily on cognitive dissonance, it’s hard to give that up.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:00 PM on January 29, 2022 [34 favorites]
If there's an extremely dark silver lining to all this, it's that the unvaccinated are currently twenty times more likely to die of Covid than those fully vaccinated and boosted.
posted by heatherlogan at 3:22 PM on January 29, 2022
posted by heatherlogan at 3:22 PM on January 29, 2022
Hermann Cain awards aside, the problem with that sort of reasoning is that it is only looking at averages, not variance. The variance in risk for a young, healthy, fully vaccinated person versus an over-70 fully vaccinated person with other health complications or an immunocompromised fully vaccinated person is significant, unfortunately. And since the latter category includes people that most in the former category care about, we can be relieved that our loved ones or ourselves are fully vaccinated and thus at lower risk than would otherwise be the case, but the too-high number of unvaccinated folks are still increasing that risk to unacceptable levels that kind of cancel out any schadenfreude silver lining.
posted by eviemath at 3:53 PM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by eviemath at 3:53 PM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
It was around -35 C (-31 F) with the windchill today in Ottawa. So-called experts say this can lead to frostbite to exposed skin in minutes, but I'm sure these freedom fighters have done their own research meteorology and learned that only 8000 people a year die of hypothermia in Canada out of 38 million. To show they are not in the pocket of Big Coat/Glove/Scarf/Toque, I have no doubt they all attended in shirtsleeves. If liberals are scared of weather that has a 99.98% survival rate, they can stay in their basements.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:12 PM on January 29, 2022 [22 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:12 PM on January 29, 2022 [22 favorites]
Ottawa in January: Not the best weather for protesting.
Even Napoleon and Hitler knew better than to try to invade Ottawa in the winter.
posted by orange swan at 4:37 PM on January 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
Even Napoleon and Hitler knew better than to try to invade Ottawa in the winter.
posted by orange swan at 4:37 PM on January 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
I guess when your entire personality is built heavily on cognitive dissonance, it’s hard to give that up.
My neighbour tells me he doesn't like to wear a mask because "they accumulate carbon monoxide" and he refuses to get vaccinated because "it changes your DNA", while smoking a cigarette.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 4:48 PM on January 29, 2022 [12 favorites]
My neighbour tells me he doesn't like to wear a mask because "they accumulate carbon monoxide" and he refuses to get vaccinated because "it changes your DNA", while smoking a cigarette.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 4:48 PM on January 29, 2022 [12 favorites]
Kurt Philips, founder and former lead writer of Anti-Racists Canada, and board member of antihate.ca, has posted a good thread commenting on what's happening in Ottawa.
Justin Ling, a freelance investigative journalist who is on the scene, also has a good thread of his observations.
posted by orange swan at 4:49 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
Justin Ling, a freelance investigative journalist who is on the scene, also has a good thread of his observations.
posted by orange swan at 4:49 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
I have no doubt they all attended in shirtsleeves.
There were at least a couple young ladies riding around in bras which brrrrr.
posted by Mitheral at 5:27 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
There were at least a couple young ladies riding around in bras which brrrrr.
posted by Mitheral at 5:27 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have a legit question: what is the solution they are proposing going forward? Because if you try and ask one of them, you get word salad about freedom, etc.
I am seriously asking: how would they end COVID?
(also i have been nuking who i follow on my social media feed like a mofo today grrrr)
posted by Kitteh at 6:21 PM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
I am seriously asking: how would they end COVID?
(also i have been nuking who i follow on my social media feed like a mofo today grrrr)
posted by Kitteh at 6:21 PM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
I don't think most of them believe COVID is a problem. They have themselves convinced it's no worse than a mild case of the sniffles, and mostly an excuse for government to invoke the Emergency Measures Act.
posted by peppermind at 6:31 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by peppermind at 6:31 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
Driving around Ottawa today, the biggest inconvenience was the yahoos clogging up the IKEA parking lot when I went to pick up my shelving. That and the LCBO closing an hour early, ostensibly to limit acts of bravery. I’ve seen plenty of bigger protests in this town, but they didn’t have diesel-powered toys to bring the headlines.
I am seriously asking: how would they end COVID?
Seriously answering: they wouldn’t. They would say that the virus has won, it’s become entrenched at a scale that can’t be significantly limited through reasonable restrictions on society, and that a certain number of infections and disabilities and deaths are the cost of doing business.
posted by saturday_morning at 6:34 PM on January 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
I am seriously asking: how would they end COVID?
Seriously answering: they wouldn’t. They would say that the virus has won, it’s become entrenched at a scale that can’t be significantly limited through reasonable restrictions on society, and that a certain number of infections and disabilities and deaths are the cost of doing business.
posted by saturday_morning at 6:34 PM on January 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
Even Napoleon and Hitler knew better than to try to invade Ottawa in the winter.
Ottawa is actually the second coldest capital city in the world.
The first is Ulaanbaatar.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:19 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
Ottawa is actually the second coldest capital city in the world.
The first is Ulaanbaatar.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:19 PM on January 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
Seriously answering: they wouldn’t. They would say that the virus has won, it’s become entrenched at a scale that can’t be significantly limited through reasonable restrictions on society, and a certain number of infections and disabilities and deaths are the cost of doing business.
"Yeah, that thing I kept saying two years ago about how 'All Lives Matter?' Let's just forget that, okay?"
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:46 PM on January 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
"Yeah, that thing I kept saying two years ago about how 'All Lives Matter?' Let's just forget that, okay?"
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:46 PM on January 29, 2022 [10 favorites]
There are one or two folks still remaining in my feed who made some noises about “gee, maybe the convoy folks have a point?” but backed down when everyone else in their feeds pointed out the far-right politics of this particular convoy. These same folks in my feed don’t understand/are rather confused about the relative scale of effects of different measures, and are advocating vitamins and healthy eating, frequent regular testing, and I guess masks? over mandates. Why they think folks who won’t get vaccinated will be fine with frequent home rapid tests is not clear to me, and they seem to waffle a bit over how they feel about mask mandates, though these particular folks I know seem to at least mostly support mask-wearing. But it fundamentally comes down to them thinking individualistically rather than collectively or looking at the whole systems picture. And probably not understanding the variance in risk levels among fully vaccinated people with different health situations, or just not thinking at all about folks who are at higher risk even despite being vaccinated.
posted by eviemath at 7:51 PM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by eviemath at 7:51 PM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]
I saw that popular Canadian maker / YouTuber AVE seems to have fallen in with this crowd. Thank god we live in a billion channel universe where I can go elsewhere for tool reviews and random machining videos.
posted by interogative mood at 8:31 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by interogative mood at 8:31 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
saturday_morning: Seriously answering: they wouldn’t. They would say that the virus has won, it’s become entrenched at a scale that can’t be significantly limited through reasonable restrictions on society, and that a certain number of infections and disabilities and deaths are the cost of doing business.
When I saw that Jason Kenney had said that Canadians should learn to live with Covid, it felt like it lined up nicely with the right-wing take on climate change. Yeah, it'll hurt some people. Learn to live with it. We're betting on the strong here, not on the weak.
posted by clawsoon at 9:21 PM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
When I saw that Jason Kenney had said that Canadians should learn to live with Covid, it felt like it lined up nicely with the right-wing take on climate change. Yeah, it'll hurt some people. Learn to live with it. We're betting on the strong here, not on the weak.
posted by clawsoon at 9:21 PM on January 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
We always knew Kenney would go full Aktion-T4, so just gonna leave this here.
Alice Wong:
Since March 2020 I have been collecting strands of disabled wisdom about the pandemic and trying to gather, weave, and share them. Disabled, fat, older, poor, immunocompromised, and chronically ill folks have been oracles well before this global public health disaster and continue to this day as institutions and leaders treat marginalized communities as disposable.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:10 PM on January 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
Alice Wong:
Since March 2020 I have been collecting strands of disabled wisdom about the pandemic and trying to gather, weave, and share them. Disabled, fat, older, poor, immunocompromised, and chronically ill folks have been oracles well before this global public health disaster and continue to this day as institutions and leaders treat marginalized communities as disposable.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:10 PM on January 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
"I saw that popular Canadian maker / YouTuber AVE seems to have fallen in with this crowd. Thank god we live in a billion channel universe where I can go elsewhere for tool reviews and random machining videos.
posted by interogative mood at 8:31 PM on 1/29
[+] [!] "
I also unfollowed.
posted by Keith Talent at 10:45 PM on January 29, 2022
posted by interogative mood at 8:31 PM on 1/29
[+] [!] "
I also unfollowed.
posted by Keith Talent at 10:45 PM on January 29, 2022
The anti-vax and anti-restriction people I know are very much seeing this from an individualistic point of view, as in "I am fit, I eat berries, this can't harm me, not being able to work out or eat out harms me", and for some of them that is true in the sense that they are definitely suffering mentally from the isolation and from being too much online instead. And from a societal point of view, their mental illness may well become a bigger issue than their risk from corona.
Some are also saying, "people who are over 70 will die soon anyway, and they are no longer contributing to society"
I rarely bother arguing with people like that. But that is probably because they are a tiny minority here.
posted by mumimor at 2:01 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
Some are also saying, "people who are over 70 will die soon anyway, and they are no longer contributing to society"
I rarely bother arguing with people like that. But that is probably because they are a tiny minority here.
posted by mumimor at 2:01 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
This TikTok by a charming paralegal clerk brightened my morning. Already 90% of long haul truckers are vaccinated, eh?
posted by Kitteh at 4:39 AM on January 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 4:39 AM on January 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
Whatever the absolute numbers, the emotional impact (e.g. see comments) it's having on some Canadians is making me think of Dief's funeral car.
posted by clawsoon at 6:20 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by clawsoon at 6:20 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
in case anyone had any doubts, there are pictures from Ottawa now of the truckers carrying swastika and "don't tread on me" flags.
posted by LegallyBread at 7:19 AM on January 30, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by LegallyBread at 7:19 AM on January 30, 2022 [9 favorites]
LegallyBread: in case anyone had any doubts, there are pictures from Ottawa now of the truckers carrying swastika and "don't tread on me" flags.
I think I got suspicious of framing a large group of people based on subgroups when I saw how right-wing media covered Black Lives Matter protests.
posted by clawsoon at 9:07 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
I think I got suspicious of framing a large group of people based on subgroups when I saw how right-wing media covered Black Lives Matter protests.
posted by clawsoon at 9:07 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
This is not a large group of people, though.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:25 AM on January 30, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:25 AM on January 30, 2022 [6 favorites]
I saw that popular Canadian maker / YouTuber AVE seems to have fallen in with this crowd.
I can’t say I’m surprised but I am disappointed. And that’s it for me and Arduino vs Evil as well.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:26 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
I can’t say I’m surprised but I am disappointed. And that’s it for me and Arduino vs Evil as well.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:26 AM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
As an official Arduino reseller in Canada, I've never heard of this Arduino vs Evil person. Sounds like Arduino might've lost here.
From CBC: I'm 53 years old and this is the hill I'm going to die on.
Probably.
posted by scruss at 9:33 AM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
From CBC: I'm 53 years old and this is the hill I'm going to die on.
Probably.
posted by scruss at 9:33 AM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
From CBC: I'm 53 years old and this is the hill I'm going to die on.
Do. Not. Fuck. With a Terry Fox statue.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:40 AM on January 30, 2022 [7 favorites]
Do. Not. Fuck. With a Terry Fox statue.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:40 AM on January 30, 2022 [7 favorites]
Yesterday, the Good Shepherd of Hope soup kitchen "staff and volunteers experienced harassment from convoy protestors seeking meals from our soup kitchen. The individuals were given meals to diffuse [sic] the conflict. Management was then informed of the issue and no further meals were given to protesters."
According to other people tweeting about this incident, there were places open for business in downtown Ottawa where the protestors could have bought food for themselves. They just would have had to put on a mask to access it. These protestors demanded food intended for Ottawa's homeless population rather than put on a mask.
posted by orange swan at 10:28 AM on January 30, 2022 [14 favorites]
According to other people tweeting about this incident, there were places open for business in downtown Ottawa where the protestors could have bought food for themselves. They just would have had to put on a mask to access it. These protestors demanded food intended for Ottawa's homeless population rather than put on a mask.
posted by orange swan at 10:28 AM on January 30, 2022 [14 favorites]
Do. Not. Fuck. With a Terry Fox statue.
Or the War Memorial, thanks.
posted by aclevername at 10:59 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
Or the War Memorial, thanks.
posted by aclevername at 10:59 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
Protesters blocking US/Canada border crossing.
Contrast with the angry response to a native rail blockade a year ago.
posted by No Robots at 11:06 AM on January 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
Contrast with the angry response to a native rail blockade a year ago.
posted by No Robots at 11:06 AM on January 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
You know, thinking about vaccinations in general, I sometimes wonder what would happen if we were to pose the problem in terms that may be more palatable to some of these folks. I usually hate thinking about medical things in militaristic terms, but maybe in this particular circumstance....?
If a foreign nations (or aliens) invaded Canada, and were threatening to take over the whole country with their huge and powerful army, and massive casualties were sure to ensue, I think we can safely assume that there might be a draft, and that average healthy Canadians would be called upon to risk their own personal safety for the good of the entire country: to defend those who are more vulnerable and can't fight for themselves, and to defend our freedoms and ways of life. And what would we think about those who chose not to fight, putting their own personal safety and comfort over the well-being of the whole country?
Well, guess what. The enemy is not only at the gates, but here. And causing thousands of people to lose their lives, and thousands more to suffer tremendously even if they survive. Our freedom to live peacefully and in good health is being curtailed not only because of COVID, but because medically necessary and life-saving surgeries have been cancelled. Why? Because our ICUs are filled with people who chose not to get vaccinated, whether out of selfishness or anxiety or laziness or paranoid delusions.
So, if you claim to support fighting for Canadians' freedom, and you would happily take up arms and risk death to fight foes speaking a foreign language, it seems awfully hypocritical that you wouldn't take a safe and effective vaccine that in essence is doing the same thing. What a bunch of infantile hypocrites.
(Yeah, yeah, I know they won't respond to this, but I just needed to articulate the thought and get it out of my head.)
posted by greatgefilte at 11:22 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
If a foreign nations (or aliens) invaded Canada, and were threatening to take over the whole country with their huge and powerful army, and massive casualties were sure to ensue, I think we can safely assume that there might be a draft, and that average healthy Canadians would be called upon to risk their own personal safety for the good of the entire country: to defend those who are more vulnerable and can't fight for themselves, and to defend our freedoms and ways of life. And what would we think about those who chose not to fight, putting their own personal safety and comfort over the well-being of the whole country?
Well, guess what. The enemy is not only at the gates, but here. And causing thousands of people to lose their lives, and thousands more to suffer tremendously even if they survive. Our freedom to live peacefully and in good health is being curtailed not only because of COVID, but because medically necessary and life-saving surgeries have been cancelled. Why? Because our ICUs are filled with people who chose not to get vaccinated, whether out of selfishness or anxiety or laziness or paranoid delusions.
So, if you claim to support fighting for Canadians' freedom, and you would happily take up arms and risk death to fight foes speaking a foreign language, it seems awfully hypocritical that you wouldn't take a safe and effective vaccine that in essence is doing the same thing. What a bunch of infantile hypocrites.
(Yeah, yeah, I know they won't respond to this, but I just needed to articulate the thought and get it out of my head.)
posted by greatgefilte at 11:22 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
No Robots: Protesters blocking US/Canada border crossing.
Contrast with the angry response to a native rail blockade a year ago.
World's most accurate political compass: "How do you feel when [group] blocks traffic?"
posted by clawsoon at 11:49 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
Contrast with the angry response to a native rail blockade a year ago.
World's most accurate political compass: "How do you feel when [group] blocks traffic?"
posted by clawsoon at 11:49 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
I think I got suspicious of framing a large group of people based on subgroups when I saw how right-wing media covered Black Lives Matter protests.
"As we say in Germany, if there's a Nazi at the table and 10 other people sitting there talking to him, you got a table with 11 Nazis."
Might be time to read the link from the top: https://www.antihate.ca/the_freedom_convoy_is_nothing_but_a_vehicle_for_the_far_right
posted by sebastienbailard at 11:52 AM on January 30, 2022 [10 favorites]
"As we say in Germany, if there's a Nazi at the table and 10 other people sitting there talking to him, you got a table with 11 Nazis."
Might be time to read the link from the top: https://www.antihate.ca/the_freedom_convoy_is_nothing_but_a_vehicle_for_the_far_right
posted by sebastienbailard at 11:52 AM on January 30, 2022 [10 favorites]
I am seeing a lot of people online twist themselves in knots about this: "I'm against vaccine mandates but I'm not a racist," etc.
Well, you are judged by the company you keep and if you're keeping company with racists because you agree on a thing, I'd take a hard look at that. Generally most people don't align themselves with white supremacists because you share a cause. But that's just me.
posted by Kitteh at 12:09 PM on January 30, 2022 [8 favorites]
Well, you are judged by the company you keep and if you're keeping company with racists because you agree on a thing, I'd take a hard look at that. Generally most people don't align themselves with white supremacists because you share a cause. But that's just me.
posted by Kitteh at 12:09 PM on January 30, 2022 [8 favorites]
For a quicker read, here's taylormcnallie's introduction to the racists running the show.
> turns into smashed windows and feces on the bust of Pierre.
From r/ottawa's megathreads, there have been a few truckers literally running train-type horns overnight. People who live in those neighborhoods, and their dogs and cats, are pretty thrashed. Some of the nazi-affiliates have been throwing rocks at windows with pride flags in them.
One ottawa redditor's a queer PoC who's frankly scared to leave their house right now.
From the current megathread: link:
> turns into smashed windows and feces on the bust of Pierre.
From r/ottawa's megathreads, there have been a few truckers literally running train-type horns overnight. People who live in those neighborhoods, and their dogs and cats, are pretty thrashed. Some of the nazi-affiliates have been throwing rocks at windows with pride flags in them.
One ottawa redditor's a queer PoC who's frankly scared to leave their house right now.
From the current megathread: link:
Continuing in the spirit of documenting the egregious behaviour of these clowns....please continue sending any others you come across.posted by sebastienbailard at 12:23 PM on January 30, 2022 [18 favorites]
Woman jumps around on top of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier | Video | Twitter
Other people sitting on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, flying US flag | Video | Twitter
Piss in the snow at the base of the National War Memorial | Photo | Twitter
Vehicles parked on the National War Memorial | Photo | Twitter
Fireworks being set off from the National War Memorial | Video | Twitter
Nazi flag flying in Major’s Hill Park | Photo | Twitter
Same Nazi flag beside Chateau Laurier | Photo | Twitter
Woman on stage asks if there are any white supremacists in the crowd, someone says "I'm a white supremacist!" followed immediately by cheers | Video | Twitter
Conservative MP Michael Cooper doing an interview in front of a Canadian flag with a swastika on it, after handing out coffee to the protestors | Photo | Twitter
Terry Fox statue defiled | Photo | Twitter
Protestors stole food from the Shepherds of Good Hope homeless shelter | Text | Twitter
Protestors deliberately obstructing ambulance, resulting in the patient dying | Text | Reddit
Protestors deliberately blocked ambulance en route to the Heart Institute | Text | Twitter
Confederate flag flying at Parliament Hill | Photo | Twitter
Confederate flag flying from the back of a pickup truck on Elgin St | Photo | Twitter
Sign that says “unvaxxed are Rosa Parks” | Photo | Twitter
Can of beer thrown at journalist | Photo | Twitter
Journalists being harassed and yelled at near Chateau Laurier | Video | Twitter
Randy Hillier and Maxime Bernier removing barricade and pushing past Parliamentary Protective Service | Video | Twitter
National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM) at the Hill | Photo | Twitter
Protestors harassing and verbally abusing hotel staff | Video | Reddit
Rideau Centre forced to close after being overrun by hostile maskless protestors | Text | Ottawa Citizen
LCBO closed due to protestors | Text | Twitter
Pat King being told to “kick it down” as he knocks on the door of the Prime Minister’s Office | Video | Twitter
Sign equating the PM with Nazi SS | Photo | Twitter
Protestors pissing on Parliament Hill | Video | Twitter
Trump 2020 flag on Parliament Hill | Video | Twitter
Trump 2024 flag on Parliament Hill | Photo | Twitter
-----
u/johnhatcock shared transphobic signage https://twitter.com/DocMCohen/status/1487829390746656772 and CTV journalists being harassed https://twitter.com/JCharronCTV/status/1487849094303424517
People cheering in response to the question "Who is a white supremacist?" https://twitter.com/davidreevely/status/1487872649426620419
So reading that link on the Wet’suwet’en rail blockade, the “counter protesters” where yelling that the blockade was nothing but a bunch of liberal paid protestors. That “paid protester” claim is often thrown around when right-wingers want to dismiss liberal and leftist protesters, but in this case we know the truck protest is being funded to the tune of over $7 million from largely anonymous sources. Can we start hollering about paid right-wing protesters now?
posted by fimbulvetr at 12:25 PM on January 30, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by fimbulvetr at 12:25 PM on January 30, 2022 [7 favorites]
From CBC: I'm 53 years old and this is the hill I'm going to die on.
‘A number of the people assembled, many of whom are not truckers, said they were on hand to pressure the government to end pandemic-related restrictions and return to "normal."’
On the one hand this is [chef’s kiss] but on the other the people being burned don’t realize they’re being burned so I guess that’s … what is that, exactly?
posted by fedward at 12:48 PM on January 30, 2022
‘A number of the people assembled, many of whom are not truckers, said they were on hand to pressure the government to end pandemic-related restrictions and return to "normal."’
On the one hand this is [chef’s kiss] but on the other the people being burned don’t realize they’re being burned so I guess that’s … what is that, exactly?
posted by fedward at 12:48 PM on January 30, 2022
Kenney denounces border crossing blockade
posted by No Robots at 4:05 PM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by No Robots at 4:05 PM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
“It is quite remarkable that you’ve got so many UCP backbenchers criticizing their own government and, in this case, actually participating in what should be an illegal protest, by their own definition,” said Bratt, referencing the UCP’s Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.Note that no one has been charged yet under this legislation. It would be hilarious if the first charges under the act went to a bunch of truckers rather than aboriginal people.
The act, established in 2020, allows the province to charge people who block critical infrastructure, including highways. It was the first piece of legislation passed by the UCP government after its 2019 election as a response to Indigenous-led protests and blockades impeding construction of pipelines.
posted by Mitheral at 4:39 PM on January 30, 2022 [7 favorites]
It would be hilarious if the first charges under the act went to a bunch of truckers rather than aboriginal people.
The likelihood of that seems remote. Source: like all parties, they want to get votes next time around, and that would not sit well with the people who voted for them last time around.
Here in Ontario, True Blue Doug Ford is being called a closet liberal by long-term supporters because... well, I guess it is because if it is a sunny afternoon and Justin Trudeau says the sun is shining, DoFo doesn't immediately declare that it is raining.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:33 PM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
The likelihood of that seems remote. Source: like all parties, they want to get votes next time around, and that would not sit well with the people who voted for them last time around.
Here in Ontario, True Blue Doug Ford is being called a closet liberal by long-term supporters because... well, I guess it is because if it is a sunny afternoon and Justin Trudeau says the sun is shining, DoFo doesn't immediately declare that it is raining.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:33 PM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Erin O'Toole tries to backpedal his previous support in light of the appalling behaviour of the convoy in Ottawa. He is rightfully called out in the thread, particularly the part where he forgets what actually happened during Terry Fox's attempted run across Canada (he only made it part way and was forced to discontinue the run due to a reoccurrence of cancer; the country responded with a spontaneous telethon held on the CBC with every available Canadian celebrity/performer pitching in, and raised the twenty million dollars Terry was hoping for in what is rightfully remembered as one of our proudest moments). So yeah, you don't fuck with the Terry Fox statue, and you don't park your cars on the war memorial, and you don't defecate in snowbanks and you don't run your diesel engines all night and roam the streets like a gang of brownshirts. A few people in my circles, for reasons best known to themselves, have been supporting them on social media or via email; I have been badly taken aback by acquaintances who I thought of as being sensible people coming out as antivaxx or as convoy cheerleaders. At least it's made it easy to trim down friends lists.
posted by jokeefe at 5:35 PM on January 30, 2022 [18 favorites]
posted by jokeefe at 5:35 PM on January 30, 2022 [18 favorites]
It would be hilarious if the first charges under the act went to a bunch of truckers rather than aboriginal people.
The likelihood of that seems remote.
True. But it would still be hilarious.
posted by eviemath at 5:56 PM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
The likelihood of that seems remote.
True. But it would still be hilarious.
posted by eviemath at 5:56 PM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Honestly, I wouldn't put it past Kenney's instincts, which seem to always lead him to do the thing that does the most to piss off both his base and his opponents.
posted by sagc at 6:02 PM on January 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by sagc at 6:02 PM on January 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
Totally off topic, but why has Vancouver international airport not been renamed Terry Fox intl yet?
posted by Keith Talent at 9:38 PM on January 30, 2022
posted by Keith Talent at 9:38 PM on January 30, 2022
All I'm saying is that if these yahoos are still here on a Monday morning when most folks are working, I'd like to know if these people are being so gravely impacted by this, who's paying their bills because Lords know I couldn't take this kind of time off for a protest for a non-racist cause.
posted by Kitteh at 4:44 AM on January 31, 2022
posted by Kitteh at 4:44 AM on January 31, 2022
My god, you guys. I’m so proud of my 2-year-old. We were stuck in stupid convoy traffic, truck cabs honking and honking as they crawled down Parkdale, and during a lull in the honking he took his thumb out of his mouth and quietly but distinctly announced “Nobody cares”.
posted by saturday_morning at 5:08 AM on January 31, 2022 [18 favorites]
posted by saturday_morning at 5:08 AM on January 31, 2022 [18 favorites]
> who's paying their bills because Lords know I couldn't take this kind of time off for a protest for a non-racist cause
An anonymous GoFundMe?
Google results for "putin fund us right-wing":
An anonymous GoFundMe?
Google results for "putin fund us right-wing":
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-s-farright-ambition-thinktank-reveals-how-russian-president-is-wooing-and-funding-populist-parties-across-europe-to-gain-influence-in-the-eu-9883052.htmlposted by sebastienbailard at 6:32 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/europe-s-far-right-enjoys-backing-russia-s-putin-n718926
https://www.justsecurity.org/68420/confronting-russias-role-in-transnational-white-supremacist-extremism/
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/10/trump-putin-alt-right-comintern/506015/
I wonder where all the GoFundMe revenue goes. Could these be the paid protesters we’ve all heard so much about?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:41 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:41 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Beaverton: Freedom convoy compares selves to Terry Fox, who famously crossed Canada to protest life saving medicine
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:24 AM on January 31, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:24 AM on January 31, 2022 [6 favorites]
but there are lots of relatively innocent tagalongs enthusiastically mixing in with a few bad apples
No - there are not. If you align yourselves with racists/fascists/Nazi "bad apples" (hint... the full phrase that no one uses properly is; "a few bad apples spoil the bunch"), you are no longer "relatively innocent" - it's a package deal...
posted by rozcakj at 8:00 AM on January 31, 2022 [14 favorites]
No - there are not. If you align yourselves with racists/fascists/Nazi "bad apples" (hint... the full phrase that no one uses properly is; "a few bad apples spoil the bunch"), you are no longer "relatively innocent" - it's a package deal...
posted by rozcakj at 8:00 AM on January 31, 2022 [14 favorites]
Friend of mine wrote on social media today:
Response to Black and Indigenous protestors: Your cause might be just, but you need to calm down and stop being thugs.posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:25 AM on January 31, 2022 [15 favorites]
Response to white protestors with Nazi and Confederate flags who robbed foodbanks and harassed shopping mall patrons and hotel clerks: Well, some of them might have gotten out of hand, but we need to listen to them.
Ottawa mayor says ticketing, towing protesters could incite them
posted by fimbulvetr at 9:34 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by fimbulvetr at 9:34 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says the threat of violence has been too great to actively force convoy protesters, and their vehicles parked in and around downtown Ottawa, to leave.
Is it just me, or does it seem like all the bad people in the world are getting away with stuff that if I tried it, they'd nail my balls to the wall?
The rule of law seems to have fallen by the wayside for a certain segment of our civilization.
posted by valkane at 9:53 AM on January 31, 2022 [19 favorites]
Is it just me, or does it seem like all the bad people in the world are getting away with stuff that if I tried it, they'd nail my balls to the wall?
The rule of law seems to have fallen by the wayside for a certain segment of our civilization.
posted by valkane at 9:53 AM on January 31, 2022 [19 favorites]
It seems unlikely these folks would stick around if there was a chance their trucks would spontaneously combust overnight....
posted by some loser at 10:06 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by some loser at 10:06 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yeah, saying “these people are too dangerous and violent to remove” is not a good look. It will just encourage further violence and intimidation.
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:08 AM on January 31, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:08 AM on January 31, 2022 [9 favorites]
Ford's response is predictably awful: "The right to peaceful process ..." indeed, but only where he's not involved. Try walking down his street and you'll get lifted by the police for something
posted by scruss at 10:26 AM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by scruss at 10:26 AM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have several passing aquaintences who were all "It's a peaceful protest". I don't usually get into it with them but it'll be tempting to respond with "The mayor of Ottawa thinks they are so prone to violence that they won't enforce the law and the Police are afraid they'll get mobbed if they write tickets".
Which is bullshit anyways. The RCMP have no problem flying members in to enforce the law with SWAT gear and prohibited assault weapons' when the protestors are Aboriginal.
Sure would be nice if the RCMP was soliciting pictures to place charges later.
The rule of law seems to have fallen by the wayside for a certain segment of our civilization.
This isn't anything particularly new; the internet and phone cameras just allow reporting that didn't happen previously.
posted by Mitheral at 10:31 AM on January 31, 2022 [12 favorites]
Which is bullshit anyways. The RCMP have no problem flying members in to enforce the law with SWAT gear and prohibited assault weapons' when the protestors are Aboriginal.
Sure would be nice if the RCMP was soliciting pictures to place charges later.
The rule of law seems to have fallen by the wayside for a certain segment of our civilization.
This isn't anything particularly new; the internet and phone cameras just allow reporting that didn't happen previously.
posted by Mitheral at 10:31 AM on January 31, 2022 [12 favorites]
What I have noticed with protest trucks driving through the city (hard to miss, bedecked in flags and signs) is that every one I've seen has been going as fast as possible and gunning their engines at every opportunity. They are using their giant metal machines as weapons of intimidation and terror.
It could be that I've only witnessed the jerky drivers, but it sure looks like a pattern of behaviour to me.
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:40 AM on January 31, 2022 [5 favorites]
It could be that I've only witnessed the jerky drivers, but it sure looks like a pattern of behaviour to me.
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:40 AM on January 31, 2022 [5 favorites]
It could be that I've only witnessed the jerky drivers, but
Imagine — someone who drove across the country for a far-right antivax protest, turning out to be a jerk
posted by saturday_morning at 10:50 AM on January 31, 2022 [7 favorites]
Imagine — someone who drove across the country for a far-right antivax protest, turning out to be a jerk
posted by saturday_morning at 10:50 AM on January 31, 2022 [7 favorites]
Which is bullshit anyways. The RCMP have no problem flying members in to enforce the law with SWAT gear and prohibited assault weapons' when the protestors are Aboriginal.
If I have it correctly, the timeline for that incident was that Gidimt’en Clan issued an evacuation order to Coastal Gaslink to leave their territory on November 14, gave the pipeline workers 8 hours to leave, and then put up blockades. On the morning of November 18th the RCMP moved in with heavy equipment and made arrests.
The truckers started setting up camp last Friday, so we can expect the RCMP to start firing tear gas, cracking heads, and forcibly removing trucks and arresting truckers tomorrow morning, right?
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:54 AM on January 31, 2022 [6 favorites]
If I have it correctly, the timeline for that incident was that Gidimt’en Clan issued an evacuation order to Coastal Gaslink to leave their territory on November 14, gave the pipeline workers 8 hours to leave, and then put up blockades. On the morning of November 18th the RCMP moved in with heavy equipment and made arrests.
The truckers started setting up camp last Friday, so we can expect the RCMP to start firing tear gas, cracking heads, and forcibly removing trucks and arresting truckers tomorrow morning, right?
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:54 AM on January 31, 2022 [6 favorites]
"Yeah, saying “these people are too dangerous and violent to remove” is not a good look. It will just encourage further violence and intimidation."
If only we had supplied police departments with armoured vehicles and no end of tactical training...
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:03 AM on January 31, 2022 [8 favorites]
If only we had supplied police departments with armoured vehicles and no end of tactical training...
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:03 AM on January 31, 2022 [8 favorites]
Ottawa mayor says ticketing, towing protesters could incite them
Jim Watson is a terrible mayor, so this is no big shock.
posted by aclevername at 12:48 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
Jim Watson is a terrible mayor, so this is no big shock.
posted by aclevername at 12:48 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
Deirdre Freiheit, president of the Shepherds of Good Hope, which run a soup kitchen for the homeless in Ottawa, said several protesters showed up at the soup kitchen on Saturday and verbally abused staff and volunteers while demanding they be served. She said some protesters were given food to defuse the situation, but going forward meals will be given only to those who need them. From The Guardian. What assholes.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:07 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 1:07 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
Imagine — someone who drove across the country for a far-right antivax protest, turning out to be a jerk
I am reliably informed (on social media by people who use a picture a truck as a profile photo and therefore expert) that the idea that it is an antivaxxer protest is merely a red herring tossed out by the far left media (that is, all media). They came to protest for all of us, to bring back our freedoms.
They drove for days without hindrance or delay, supported by huge crowdfunding donations, waved on by (sparse) crowds, to the national capital where they gathered on the front lawn of parliament, blocked streets for days parked on the National War Memorial, shat in the snowbanks, stole food meant for the poor, blocked ambulances, and were reassured by the police that this is fine. But they lack freedom, you see.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:12 PM on January 31, 2022 [14 favorites]
I am reliably informed (on social media by people who use a picture a truck as a profile photo and therefore expert) that the idea that it is an antivaxxer protest is merely a red herring tossed out by the far left media (that is, all media). They came to protest for all of us, to bring back our freedoms.
They drove for days without hindrance or delay, supported by huge crowdfunding donations, waved on by (sparse) crowds, to the national capital where they gathered on the front lawn of parliament, blocked streets for days parked on the National War Memorial, shat in the snowbanks, stole food meant for the poor, blocked ambulances, and were reassured by the police that this is fine. But they lack freedom, you see.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:12 PM on January 31, 2022 [14 favorites]
>> Ottawa mayor says ticketing, towing protesters could incite them
> Jim Watson is a terrible mayor, so this is no big shock.
Maybe one of the neonazis moonlights as a developer, and Watson doesn't want to alienate them?
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:58 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
> Jim Watson is a terrible mayor, so this is no big shock.
Maybe one of the neonazis moonlights as a developer, and Watson doesn't want to alienate them?
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:58 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
Here's a little something I've posted both on my Facebook page and on Twitter:
For a couple of days now I've been watching the anti-vax rabble stomp their feet in Ottawa. Canadians have a right to peaceful protest, but this hasn't been a peaceful protest. These protestors have been urinating and defecating and littering anywhere they please. They've been parking illegally, are driving fast and aggressively everywhere they go in the city, and are blasting their vehicle horns day and night, to the distress of those living in the area. They have been parking and dancing on the National War Memorial, and have defiled the Terry Fox statue. They're flying Nazi and Confederate and Trump flags, and defacing the Canadian flag with swastikas. When a woman on a stage asked if there were any white supremacists in the crowd, someone responded, "I'm a white supremacist!" and there were cheers from the crowd. They harassed workers at the Shepherds of Good Hope homeless shelter into giving them food meant for the homeless. A few of them assaulted a homeless man outside the shelter, and when a security guard came to the man's rescue, they yelled a racial slur at him. Rideau Centre was so overrun by hostile maskless protestors that the mall, which ordinarily is open every day but Christmas, had to be cleared by the police and closed. Other businesses have had to close as well. They've verbally abused and harassed customer service people, and I've read of one assault, of a hotel employee. Protestors deliberately blocked the way of an ambulance, and the trauma patient it was transporting died on the way to the hospital. They've harassed and yelled at and spat on journalists trying to cover these events, and in one case threw a can of beer at a journalist. And then they claim the media won't cover their "historic protest", even though the story is front and centre on every major Canadian news site.
And what are they hoping to achieve with all this? To bring about the end of all pandemic restrictions and mandates, even though doing so would be a public health disaster. Oh, and they want our elected officials to resign and let *them* be the government.
The reality is that everyone is tired of the restrictions. Everyone wants the pandemic to be over yesterday. Everyone is disappointed and frustrated and depressed that, nearly two years into this horrible ongoing global crisis, we don't have an end date for it. But most of us have the emotional and intellectual maturity to realize that the public health recommendations and policies put in place by the government exist for a good reason, and that we all need to live our lives within those restrictions, coping and helping ourselves and others as best we can, until the pandemic is over. These protestors don't get that, because they lack the capacity for abstract rational thought and don't understand concepts like personal responsibility and consequences and prioritizing other people's safety over whatever they happen to feel like doing. They don't understand the difference between being inconvenienced and being oppressed. They really think that if they throw a mass tantrum in our national capital for a week or so, they'll get their way. These monstrous children, who lacked sufficient executive ability to plan where they were going to pee while in Ottawa, want us to do whatever they say, to let them run our country.
And the only reasonable, responsible answer for the rest of us to make to that demand is, "No. No, you cannot have your way. No, our democratically elected government officials will not meet with you, let alone resign, because they don't answer to violent mobs. You have the right to your own opinion and the right to peaceful protest and no one is going to physically pin you down and make you submit to a vaccination shot, but you have no right to break our laws and endanger or harass other people, and if you continue to do so there will be legal, professional, and societal consequences." And then, because they still won't respect a no, we follow through with those consequences.
It's past time for the Ottawa police to start tagging and towing illegally parked vehicles, and making arrests for any and all criminal behaviour.
posted by orange swan at 2:11 PM on January 31, 2022 [33 favorites]
For a couple of days now I've been watching the anti-vax rabble stomp their feet in Ottawa. Canadians have a right to peaceful protest, but this hasn't been a peaceful protest. These protestors have been urinating and defecating and littering anywhere they please. They've been parking illegally, are driving fast and aggressively everywhere they go in the city, and are blasting their vehicle horns day and night, to the distress of those living in the area. They have been parking and dancing on the National War Memorial, and have defiled the Terry Fox statue. They're flying Nazi and Confederate and Trump flags, and defacing the Canadian flag with swastikas. When a woman on a stage asked if there were any white supremacists in the crowd, someone responded, "I'm a white supremacist!" and there were cheers from the crowd. They harassed workers at the Shepherds of Good Hope homeless shelter into giving them food meant for the homeless. A few of them assaulted a homeless man outside the shelter, and when a security guard came to the man's rescue, they yelled a racial slur at him. Rideau Centre was so overrun by hostile maskless protestors that the mall, which ordinarily is open every day but Christmas, had to be cleared by the police and closed. Other businesses have had to close as well. They've verbally abused and harassed customer service people, and I've read of one assault, of a hotel employee. Protestors deliberately blocked the way of an ambulance, and the trauma patient it was transporting died on the way to the hospital. They've harassed and yelled at and spat on journalists trying to cover these events, and in one case threw a can of beer at a journalist. And then they claim the media won't cover their "historic protest", even though the story is front and centre on every major Canadian news site.
And what are they hoping to achieve with all this? To bring about the end of all pandemic restrictions and mandates, even though doing so would be a public health disaster. Oh, and they want our elected officials to resign and let *them* be the government.
The reality is that everyone is tired of the restrictions. Everyone wants the pandemic to be over yesterday. Everyone is disappointed and frustrated and depressed that, nearly two years into this horrible ongoing global crisis, we don't have an end date for it. But most of us have the emotional and intellectual maturity to realize that the public health recommendations and policies put in place by the government exist for a good reason, and that we all need to live our lives within those restrictions, coping and helping ourselves and others as best we can, until the pandemic is over. These protestors don't get that, because they lack the capacity for abstract rational thought and don't understand concepts like personal responsibility and consequences and prioritizing other people's safety over whatever they happen to feel like doing. They don't understand the difference between being inconvenienced and being oppressed. They really think that if they throw a mass tantrum in our national capital for a week or so, they'll get their way. These monstrous children, who lacked sufficient executive ability to plan where they were going to pee while in Ottawa, want us to do whatever they say, to let them run our country.
And the only reasonable, responsible answer for the rest of us to make to that demand is, "No. No, you cannot have your way. No, our democratically elected government officials will not meet with you, let alone resign, because they don't answer to violent mobs. You have the right to your own opinion and the right to peaceful protest and no one is going to physically pin you down and make you submit to a vaccination shot, but you have no right to break our laws and endanger or harass other people, and if you continue to do so there will be legal, professional, and societal consequences." And then, because they still won't respect a no, we follow through with those consequences.
It's past time for the Ottawa police to start tagging and towing illegally parked vehicles, and making arrests for any and all criminal behaviour.
posted by orange swan at 2:11 PM on January 31, 2022 [33 favorites]
Man, the videos of the "Anishinabek Solutrean Métis Indigenous Nation" idiots dancing at the protest are something else. The Canadian nutjobs are really giving my country's Q-shamen a run for his money. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But, I am surprised. (For those lucky enough not to have heard of them: they're not indigenous by any reasonable definition. "Solutrean" is reference to a thoroughly discredited theory that the Americas were populated by people from Western Europe. It's racist shit all the way down. But with drums and feathers.)
The difference between official response to this and the G20 protests twenty years ago is unsurprising, but worth remembering.
posted by eotvos at 2:18 PM on January 31, 2022 [7 favorites]
The difference between official response to this and the G20 protests twenty years ago is unsurprising, but worth remembering.
posted by eotvos at 2:18 PM on January 31, 2022 [7 favorites]
The Beaverton [satire]:
Ottawa Police issue apology to protesters for any inconvenience they may have caused
Not feeling far from the truth these days.
posted by aclevername at 4:06 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
Ottawa Police issue apology to protesters for any inconvenience they may have caused
Not feeling far from the truth these days.
posted by aclevername at 4:06 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
For those lucky enough not to have heard of them: they're not indigenous by any reasonable definition.
Geeze. I had never heard of those guys before, and just fell down the rabbit hole of reading about them. Quite the spin on SovCit. What a bunch of unbelievable nutters.
posted by fimbulvetr at 4:19 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
Geeze. I had never heard of those guys before, and just fell down the rabbit hole of reading about them. Quite the spin on SovCit. What a bunch of unbelievable nutters.
posted by fimbulvetr at 4:19 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
The difference between official response to this and the G20 protests twenty years ago is unsurprising, but worth remembering.
That's been on my mind too. They sure weren't worried about inciting protestors then.
Imagine if Greenpeace or similar rolled into Ottawa in a bunch of big trucks and started driving them around and blocking the streets. I'm certain that the police response would be swift and violent.
posted by ssg at 5:13 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
That's been on my mind too. They sure weren't worried about inciting protestors then.
Imagine if Greenpeace or similar rolled into Ottawa in a bunch of big trucks and started driving them around and blocking the streets. I'm certain that the police response would be swift and violent.
posted by ssg at 5:13 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
“I have no doubt that this is pure racism involved,” said [Pam] Palmater. “Are people allowed to threaten the life of the prime minister? I’m wondering about that because I guarantee you if that was an Indigenous person or a Black person, they’d be sitting in jail.”
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:15 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:15 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
There is a rather dark tik tok video of police carrying boxes of meals, supposedly for the protesters. I have watched the video, the police are certainly carrying boxes of *something*. But it's hard to say.
posted by aclevername at 5:53 PM on January 31, 2022
posted by aclevername at 5:53 PM on January 31, 2022
Justin now says “We won’t give in to fascism and hate speech”.
“We won’t give in” is what a weak person with nothing else to resort to says. He has the power of the government and the military behind him, yet he makes bluster like someone whose house is about to be bulldozed. Actions, Justin. Shut mouth. Do. Like dad would have already.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:41 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
“We won’t give in” is what a weak person with nothing else to resort to says. He has the power of the government and the military behind him, yet he makes bluster like someone whose house is about to be bulldozed. Actions, Justin. Shut mouth. Do. Like dad would have already.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:41 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
It looks like Erin O'Toole is facing a caucus revolt. Not due to the convoy exactly, just unfortunate timing of the release of the party election review (although I suspect his response showed the party that his typical dance-on-the-knife-edge act has finally worn thin).
Which means the convoy's stated demand to replace the Prime Minister may have inadvertently caused the end of the Leader of the Official Opposition, so maybe that's close enough to call victory and leave?
posted by GhostintheMachine at 6:56 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
Which means the convoy's stated demand to replace the Prime Minister may have inadvertently caused the end of the Leader of the Official Opposition, so maybe that's close enough to call victory and leave?
posted by GhostintheMachine at 6:56 PM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
This is going to be a long post. I'm sorry about that, but I feel the need to vent.
I stopped by my local bank today. It was cold enough that between the general winter temperatures and my mask, my glasses were pretty fogged up, so I wasn't paying as much attention to my surroundings as I normally would.
I was standing in line. One woman was in front of me. A guy was behind me. There was an old guy in front of one of the tellers and a woman in front of the other. Eventually, the woman in front of me moved up to the tellers' counter and somebody else entered the bank and went to the end of the line.
The old guy (OG) realized that the new customer was a buddy of his and shouted over. "I'm surprised to see you here today. Did you get any sleep?
The dude at the back of the line responded that he had six hours because he managed to drive straight through.
As soon as those words came out of his mouth, I knew (or at least I thought I knew) exactly where the conversation was going to go and sure enough it went there.
It turns out that younger asshole (YA)--you'll see why he earns that name in a minute--explained, that yes, he and his wife and his daughters (three or four of them) went up to Ottawa for the weekend. They managed to find the last hotel room, and they had a great time. It was the biggest, best party he has been to in a long time. Oh, and apparently he and his family were took part in one of the groups waving to the convey from a highway overpass. Apparently he took the truck, but I don't know if that means his rig or just a general pick-up.
YA and OG continued there discussion. It turns out that they were both gleeful over Trudeau getting COVID-19, the OG followed all the YA's social media posts about the weekend. The CBC ignored everybody, but CTV and Global eventually came around to talk to them. That the Terry Fox statue wasn't desecrated and instead it was just decorated with a Canadian flag. Also, tow trucks that were called to tow-away some trucks refused to cross the convoy line and instead joined it, so the officials had to call in snow plows.
Apparently YA was a hero. He saved a homeless man from freezing to death in a snowbank. The homeless guy was already exhibiting signs of stage one hypothermia ("you would know," shouted OG), but that the "media" gave the credit for the save to a local fireman.
Eventually, one of the two women tellers walked up to YA and asked,"sir, do you have a mask? If so would you put it on?"
At that point, I turned around (and my glasses had cleared up enough) that I could that no, the big ape of a dude wasn't wearing a mask. (To give him credit, OG was.)
At that point, the teller held out a paper mask, still sealed in plastic, and asked if he would please put it on.
"Is that a AJKS3U49NFKLS4324 [some made-up sounding series of letters and numbers that I've never heard before]?" he asked.
You could see the teller was getting upset. "It what the bank supplies us with," she replied.
"Is that warranted to stop virus transmission?'
"It's what they send us."
"Don't you know that regulation JGKJGLS9038098 [again made-up sounding gobbledygook] states that to prevent virus transmission..."
I could see the teller was getting worried. YA was a big guy--a good foot taller than I am with an arm span that's probably double mine, not to mention hers. I have no idea where the male bank manager was or any of the guys who get the jobs selling investments in offices while the women man the counters and deal with all of the regular customers. They were nowhere to be found.
The other guy in line was doing his best to turn invisible. The other teller was both young and new (and still trying to help OG).
So that meant if anybody was going to say anything it was going to have to be me. Crap. So I did.
"Well, if you're such an expert on mask safety regulations, and you know what kind of mask works, where's yours?" I called over.
"The fire department won't let me take one home with me," replied YA. I guess I was supposed to be intimidated by that. Or impressed that he was some big hero or something. Was he a fire fighter? I have no idea. I don't care if he is. I didn't recognize him (and I had actually worked at that bank for a lot of years many, many moons ago, so if he had been a long-time customer, I might have actually known him.)
I think at that point I said something to him about the fact that he could still put on another typd of mask if he actually cared about protecting people and not just about himself. Then he started preaching to me about regulation made-up numbers and mask type made-up numbers two and how I needed to educate myself. Plus there was something in there about "standing up for freedom."
The teller had backed away by that point and had given up on trying to make him wear a mask. He was no longer paying her any attention, so I figured that was about all I could do, so I shut up for a minute.
OG was finally finished his banking, and wandered to where YA was standing so they could continue to carry on their conversation, at a level that meant everybody had to listen to them.
Blah, blah, blah. The truckers are there to stay. They aren't going anywhere. They've got their trucks loaded up with food. A convoy is heading to Ottawa from Saskatchewan. Another is departing from somewhere else. The Americans are paying attention. They're going to start doing the same thing. Trump is supporting them. They're going to get this vaccine mandate rolled back. There's a facebook group that lets you know when all of the protests are happening and shares all the news about protest events. It was such a great time. The helicopter buzzing the Parliament Buildings was hilarious, especially as it swooped down over everybody. They set off fireworks all night long....
At that point, I kind of had enough. I was tired of letting these idiots just think they could dominate the whole public space and force us to listen to their garbage. I know that it is pointless to engage with idiots, especially those who are convinced they are right, but I was so angry I was just shaking, so I turned around and said, "A peaceful protest is one thing, but what was happening was not peaceful. If it was peaceful why did you feel the need to set off fireworks all night long, disturbing people, waking up babies and children and people with medical conditions? That's not peaceful, that's just about disruption." (Or something to that effect.)
Of course he answered that it's his right to protest and that he just wanted to be left in peace.
At that point, it was finally my turn to get up to the teller, and I just wanted to get my banking done and get out of there.
I will admit that as I went about the rest of my errands, I had an eye on my back, just in case YA wanted to follow me and start something physical. I wouldn't put it past him.
I really wanted to call the cops, but I have no idea what the rules actually are. I know you don't need to be vaccinated to enter places deemed essential like grocery stores and banks, but I don't actually know what the mask rule is. Tomorrow, I'm going to have to call the non-emergency number of the local police station and see what they suggest for the next time I find myself in one of those situations.
I refuse to let people like YA win. I refuse to let them think they can shove their crap at other people without resistance, especially people who are performing customer-service jobs and don't really feel as if they can tell a customer to get out. This is my country, and I've got the freedom to stand up for what I believe and, more importantly, stand up for what's right. "Freedom" is not something I'll let these jerks co-opt. If they want the "freedom," and the right to speak freely, they'd better be prepared to hear what I have to say when I put my "freedom" to use.
(I'm still so angry, and typing all of this up has raised my blood pressure to the boiling point, so I'm not going to bother reading this over for typos. I just need to hit post so I can get this off my chest.)
posted by sardonyx at 6:58 PM on January 31, 2022 [34 favorites]
I stopped by my local bank today. It was cold enough that between the general winter temperatures and my mask, my glasses were pretty fogged up, so I wasn't paying as much attention to my surroundings as I normally would.
I was standing in line. One woman was in front of me. A guy was behind me. There was an old guy in front of one of the tellers and a woman in front of the other. Eventually, the woman in front of me moved up to the tellers' counter and somebody else entered the bank and went to the end of the line.
The old guy (OG) realized that the new customer was a buddy of his and shouted over. "I'm surprised to see you here today. Did you get any sleep?
The dude at the back of the line responded that he had six hours because he managed to drive straight through.
As soon as those words came out of his mouth, I knew (or at least I thought I knew) exactly where the conversation was going to go and sure enough it went there.
It turns out that younger asshole (YA)--you'll see why he earns that name in a minute--explained, that yes, he and his wife and his daughters (three or four of them) went up to Ottawa for the weekend. They managed to find the last hotel room, and they had a great time. It was the biggest, best party he has been to in a long time. Oh, and apparently he and his family were took part in one of the groups waving to the convey from a highway overpass. Apparently he took the truck, but I don't know if that means his rig or just a general pick-up.
YA and OG continued there discussion. It turns out that they were both gleeful over Trudeau getting COVID-19, the OG followed all the YA's social media posts about the weekend. The CBC ignored everybody, but CTV and Global eventually came around to talk to them. That the Terry Fox statue wasn't desecrated and instead it was just decorated with a Canadian flag. Also, tow trucks that were called to tow-away some trucks refused to cross the convoy line and instead joined it, so the officials had to call in snow plows.
Apparently YA was a hero. He saved a homeless man from freezing to death in a snowbank. The homeless guy was already exhibiting signs of stage one hypothermia ("you would know," shouted OG), but that the "media" gave the credit for the save to a local fireman.
Eventually, one of the two women tellers walked up to YA and asked,"sir, do you have a mask? If so would you put it on?"
At that point, I turned around (and my glasses had cleared up enough) that I could that no, the big ape of a dude wasn't wearing a mask. (To give him credit, OG was.)
At that point, the teller held out a paper mask, still sealed in plastic, and asked if he would please put it on.
"Is that a AJKS3U49NFKLS4324 [some made-up sounding series of letters and numbers that I've never heard before]?" he asked.
You could see the teller was getting upset. "It what the bank supplies us with," she replied.
"Is that warranted to stop virus transmission?'
"It's what they send us."
"Don't you know that regulation JGKJGLS9038098 [again made-up sounding gobbledygook] states that to prevent virus transmission..."
I could see the teller was getting worried. YA was a big guy--a good foot taller than I am with an arm span that's probably double mine, not to mention hers. I have no idea where the male bank manager was or any of the guys who get the jobs selling investments in offices while the women man the counters and deal with all of the regular customers. They were nowhere to be found.
The other guy in line was doing his best to turn invisible. The other teller was both young and new (and still trying to help OG).
So that meant if anybody was going to say anything it was going to have to be me. Crap. So I did.
"Well, if you're such an expert on mask safety regulations, and you know what kind of mask works, where's yours?" I called over.
"The fire department won't let me take one home with me," replied YA. I guess I was supposed to be intimidated by that. Or impressed that he was some big hero or something. Was he a fire fighter? I have no idea. I don't care if he is. I didn't recognize him (and I had actually worked at that bank for a lot of years many, many moons ago, so if he had been a long-time customer, I might have actually known him.)
I think at that point I said something to him about the fact that he could still put on another typd of mask if he actually cared about protecting people and not just about himself. Then he started preaching to me about regulation made-up numbers and mask type made-up numbers two and how I needed to educate myself. Plus there was something in there about "standing up for freedom."
The teller had backed away by that point and had given up on trying to make him wear a mask. He was no longer paying her any attention, so I figured that was about all I could do, so I shut up for a minute.
OG was finally finished his banking, and wandered to where YA was standing so they could continue to carry on their conversation, at a level that meant everybody had to listen to them.
Blah, blah, blah. The truckers are there to stay. They aren't going anywhere. They've got their trucks loaded up with food. A convoy is heading to Ottawa from Saskatchewan. Another is departing from somewhere else. The Americans are paying attention. They're going to start doing the same thing. Trump is supporting them. They're going to get this vaccine mandate rolled back. There's a facebook group that lets you know when all of the protests are happening and shares all the news about protest events. It was such a great time. The helicopter buzzing the Parliament Buildings was hilarious, especially as it swooped down over everybody. They set off fireworks all night long....
At that point, I kind of had enough. I was tired of letting these idiots just think they could dominate the whole public space and force us to listen to their garbage. I know that it is pointless to engage with idiots, especially those who are convinced they are right, but I was so angry I was just shaking, so I turned around and said, "A peaceful protest is one thing, but what was happening was not peaceful. If it was peaceful why did you feel the need to set off fireworks all night long, disturbing people, waking up babies and children and people with medical conditions? That's not peaceful, that's just about disruption." (Or something to that effect.)
Of course he answered that it's his right to protest and that he just wanted to be left in peace.
At that point, it was finally my turn to get up to the teller, and I just wanted to get my banking done and get out of there.
I will admit that as I went about the rest of my errands, I had an eye on my back, just in case YA wanted to follow me and start something physical. I wouldn't put it past him.
I really wanted to call the cops, but I have no idea what the rules actually are. I know you don't need to be vaccinated to enter places deemed essential like grocery stores and banks, but I don't actually know what the mask rule is. Tomorrow, I'm going to have to call the non-emergency number of the local police station and see what they suggest for the next time I find myself in one of those situations.
I refuse to let people like YA win. I refuse to let them think they can shove their crap at other people without resistance, especially people who are performing customer-service jobs and don't really feel as if they can tell a customer to get out. This is my country, and I've got the freedom to stand up for what I believe and, more importantly, stand up for what's right. "Freedom" is not something I'll let these jerks co-opt. If they want the "freedom," and the right to speak freely, they'd better be prepared to hear what I have to say when I put my "freedom" to use.
(I'm still so angry, and typing all of this up has raised my blood pressure to the boiling point, so I'm not going to bother reading this over for typos. I just need to hit post so I can get this off my chest.)
posted by sardonyx at 6:58 PM on January 31, 2022 [34 favorites]
I know it's not related to the trucking idiots, but since Erin O'Toole was mentioned, I'll share this as well.
My one laugh of the day came when I was talking with my mother. Well, talking isn't exactly the right word. She was laughing so hard she couldn't get any words out.
After a few minutes, she finally calmed down enough to ask me if I had heard O'Toole's speech today. No, I missed it. Well, apparently along with talking about the protest, he had something to say about the situation in Ukraine. I think, from what my mom said, he was trying to talk about the Holodomor--the famine engineered in Ukraine by the Russians--and how there would never be another. Well, I guess his pronunciation was off, because instead of saying there would be no more famine, apparently he said there would be no more naked people. (It seems the words for hunger and naked are similar in Ukrainian, and he went with the clothing-optional version.) This is one of those rare instances when I wish I had a twitter account, as I'd love to put up a clip of him talking about naked people.
posted by sardonyx at 7:06 PM on January 31, 2022 [8 favorites]
My one laugh of the day came when I was talking with my mother. Well, talking isn't exactly the right word. She was laughing so hard she couldn't get any words out.
After a few minutes, she finally calmed down enough to ask me if I had heard O'Toole's speech today. No, I missed it. Well, apparently along with talking about the protest, he had something to say about the situation in Ukraine. I think, from what my mom said, he was trying to talk about the Holodomor--the famine engineered in Ukraine by the Russians--and how there would never be another. Well, I guess his pronunciation was off, because instead of saying there would be no more famine, apparently he said there would be no more naked people. (It seems the words for hunger and naked are similar in Ukrainian, and he went with the clothing-optional version.) This is one of those rare instances when I wish I had a twitter account, as I'd love to put up a clip of him talking about naked people.
posted by sardonyx at 7:06 PM on January 31, 2022 [8 favorites]
Sardonyx, I’m with you buddy.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 7:06 PM on January 31, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by Turtles all the way down at 7:06 PM on January 31, 2022 [6 favorites]
I just wish I could have done more, but I know my limits. I know that a man that much bigger than me can do some serious damage to me, just the same way every woman knows that. Normally, I'm pretty confident in my ability to protect myself and to get myself out of sticky situations, but honestly, I could only see about a dozen ways everything could end badly. It's so frustrating to know that when push comes to shove, I'm pretty much powerless--or if not powerless, likely to be the party that suffers the most. It's such a shitty situation to be in, and I hate it.
posted by sardonyx at 7:17 PM on January 31, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 7:17 PM on January 31, 2022 [5 favorites]
Also, now I'm kicking myself for not proof reading the post. The typos are killing me!
posted by sardonyx at 7:20 PM on January 31, 2022
posted by sardonyx at 7:20 PM on January 31, 2022
As a large man who is gentle but inclined to call out line cutters at the grocery store, I have found myself torn when I witness yet another beleaguered employee deal with an adult toddler having a public tantrum when asked to wear a mask as the law requires. As much as I want to help out and intercede, I know it is just going to make the situation worse. And that’s probably exactly what Toddler wants.
This whole thing we’re dealing with is the “never get into a fight in the mud with a pig — you both get dirty and the pig likes it” maxim, writ large.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 7:36 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
This whole thing we’re dealing with is the “never get into a fight in the mud with a pig — you both get dirty and the pig likes it” maxim, writ large.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 7:36 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm still so angry, and typing all of this up has raised my blood pressure to the boiling point
It's been a long few days here in Ottawa. Thank you for saying something to them.
posted by aclevername at 10:11 PM on January 31, 2022 [7 favorites]
It's been a long few days here in Ottawa. Thank you for saying something to them.
posted by aclevername at 10:11 PM on January 31, 2022 [7 favorites]
if these people are being so gravely impacted by this, who's paying their bills because Lords know I couldn't take this kind of time off for a protest for a non-racist cause
My half-baked theory is that the vast majority of these people are grain farmers, self-employed trades, and seasonal workers. Absolutely not saying No True Trucker would participate in this, because there's been a lot of that and it's ridiculous, truckers are just as if not more shitty than anyone else, it's just that there is work available for truckers, whereas grain farmers and seasonals collecting EI and trades have the time and resources to go jerk off on Parliament Hill right now if it suits them.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:32 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
My half-baked theory is that the vast majority of these people are grain farmers, self-employed trades, and seasonal workers. Absolutely not saying No True Trucker would participate in this, because there's been a lot of that and it's ridiculous, truckers are just as if not more shitty than anyone else, it's just that there is work available for truckers, whereas grain farmers and seasonals collecting EI and trades have the time and resources to go jerk off on Parliament Hill right now if it suits them.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:32 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
I thin this quote from the Ottawa Citizen today is a good description of the situation:
“This is not what other protests are, which is marshalling people together for a clearly articulated cause, having some attention-drawing event to drive the conversation nationally for a couple days and move the ball. But they are not doing that. This is an occupation and they’re clearly here to stay. They’re not here to talk. They’re here to disrupt and destabilize.”
posted by fimbulvetr at 5:02 AM on February 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
“This is not what other protests are, which is marshalling people together for a clearly articulated cause, having some attention-drawing event to drive the conversation nationally for a couple days and move the ball. But they are not doing that. This is an occupation and they’re clearly here to stay. They’re not here to talk. They’re here to disrupt and destabilize.”
posted by fimbulvetr at 5:02 AM on February 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
It would be nice if Ottawa applied parking violations upon idling bylaw violations to these vehicles. But serving the truck operators has risks
posted by scruss at 6:07 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 6:07 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
I’m hoping that Trudeau/Ottawa police are giving the less-committed time to decide they’re not having fun anymore, pack up, and leave, and planning to deal with the “here to stay” crowd once they're all that remain.
Are there any reliable estimates re: how many people - and big rigs - there are in the second category?
posted by Epixonti at 6:17 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Are there any reliable estimates re: how many people - and big rigs - there are in the second category?
posted by Epixonti at 6:17 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Rupa Subramanya in National Post: Freedom Convoy dismantles stereotypes about who is opposed to vaccine mandates
posted by theorique at 7:17 AM on February 1, 2022
posted by theorique at 7:17 AM on February 1, 2022
Vulnerable downtown residents hit breaking point as convoy enters 5th day
Also, theorique, the only stereotype being dismantled here is that there are no antivaxxer MeFites.
posted by heatherlogan at 7:29 AM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
Also, theorique, the only stereotype being dismantled here is that there are no antivaxxer MeFites.
posted by heatherlogan at 7:29 AM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
Narrator: it did not in fact dismantle stereotypes.
Also, the National Post platforms openly bigoted far-right pro-fascism/white supremacist propaganda publication, and I find it horrifying that anyone here would link to it no matter what, let alone as dubious proof of alleged liberal malfeasance.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 7:33 AM on February 1, 2022 [23 favorites]
Also, the National Post platforms openly bigoted far-right pro-fascism/white supremacist propaganda publication, and I find it horrifying that anyone here would link to it no matter what, let alone as dubious proof of alleged liberal malfeasance.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 7:33 AM on February 1, 2022 [23 favorites]
"How did elite Canadian opinion go from compassion for marginalized groups fearful to be vaccinated, toward hate and vitriol, that such people should be ostracized, imprisoned or fined, in just a few months?"
Idunno, dancing on the war memorial? Shitting on someone's steps? Abusing the good graces of a homeless shelter? The general fact that if it wasn't for the anti-vaxxers, this would all be over by now?
I'm guessing stuff like that, National Post.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:29 AM on February 1, 2022 [12 favorites]
Idunno, dancing on the war memorial? Shitting on someone's steps? Abusing the good graces of a homeless shelter? The general fact that if it wasn't for the anti-vaxxers, this would all be over by now?
I'm guessing stuff like that, National Post.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:29 AM on February 1, 2022 [12 favorites]
It's now day four. The remaining protestors are running low on fuel, money and supplies. Morale is dipping accordingly.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 8:31 AM on February 1, 2022
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 8:31 AM on February 1, 2022
As Shepherd pointed out last night when I expressed disappointment with some POC activists who are trying to spin this as "yes we know there are white oppression symbols present but we don't want vaccine mandates", it doesn't matter if it's a very big table and the Nazis are at one end and you're at the other, you're still sharing the table with Nazis.
posted by Kitteh at 8:34 AM on February 1, 2022 [12 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 8:34 AM on February 1, 2022 [12 favorites]
The general fact that if it wasn't for the anti-vaxxers, this would all be over by now?
Does this also apply to 90% vaccinated and 60% boosted Israel, where cases have now grown from essentially nothing at the start of December 2021 to 5x the US case rate and 20x the Canadian case rate by the end of January 2022.
Don't mistake me for an anti-vaxxer - I'm fully vaccinated myself and I think it's a very reasonable medical decision for most people to make. But thinking that all we need to do is force those who choose otherwise to receive the mRNA injection and the pandemic will be over... that's a mistake.
posted by theorique at 8:49 AM on February 1, 2022
Does this also apply to 90% vaccinated and 60% boosted Israel, where cases have now grown from essentially nothing at the start of December 2021 to 5x the US case rate and 20x the Canadian case rate by the end of January 2022.
Don't mistake me for an anti-vaxxer - I'm fully vaccinated myself and I think it's a very reasonable medical decision for most people to make. But thinking that all we need to do is force those who choose otherwise to receive the mRNA injection and the pandemic will be over... that's a mistake.
posted by theorique at 8:49 AM on February 1, 2022
Don't mistake me for an anti-vaxxer - I'm fully vaccinated myself and I think it's a very reasonable medical decision for most people to make. But thinking that all we need to do is force those who choose otherwise to receive the mRNA injection and the pandemic will be over... that's a mistake.
That's just a different type of anti-vaxxer, in quite possibly the most hypocritical and damaging way. Vaccine mandates are one of the bedrocks of public health, and in places like the US are responsible for preventing millions of unnecessary illnesses and deaths, especially amongst children, the immunocompromised, and the elderly.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 9:06 AM on February 1, 2022 [17 favorites]
That's just a different type of anti-vaxxer, in quite possibly the most hypocritical and damaging way. Vaccine mandates are one of the bedrocks of public health, and in places like the US are responsible for preventing millions of unnecessary illnesses and deaths, especially amongst children, the immunocompromised, and the elderly.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 9:06 AM on February 1, 2022 [17 favorites]
Oh, and also:
Does this also apply to 90% vaccinated and 60% boosted Israel, where cases have now grown from essentially nothing at the start of December 2021 to 5x the US case rate and 20x the Canadian case rate by the end of January 2022.
This is because a lack of vaccinated people all around the world allowed the virus to quickly mutate into forms that are extremely successful at breaking through prior vaccinations.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 9:09 AM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
Does this also apply to 90% vaccinated and 60% boosted Israel, where cases have now grown from essentially nothing at the start of December 2021 to 5x the US case rate and 20x the Canadian case rate by the end of January 2022.
This is because a lack of vaccinated people all around the world allowed the virus to quickly mutate into forms that are extremely successful at breaking through prior vaccinations.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 9:09 AM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
theorique: Does this also apply to 90% vaccinated and 60% boosted Israel, where cases have now grown from essentially nothing at the start of December 2021 to 5x the US case rate and 20x the Canadian case rate by the end of January 2022.
I'm wondering how much of that is Canada throwing up its arms about testing (e.g. no more collecting or reporting cases from schools in Ontario), and how much results from the concentration of the unvaccinated among orthodox groups rather than having the unvaccinated spread out randomly in the population. It would be interesting to dig into the numbers, if they're available.
posted by clawsoon at 9:11 AM on February 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm wondering how much of that is Canada throwing up its arms about testing (e.g. no more collecting or reporting cases from schools in Ontario), and how much results from the concentration of the unvaccinated among orthodox groups rather than having the unvaccinated spread out randomly in the population. It would be interesting to dig into the numbers, if they're available.
posted by clawsoon at 9:11 AM on February 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
the mRNA injection
I don't know if you know it, theorique, but that is conspiracy speak right there. Everyone I know or have met or read about in the news who uses "the mRNA injection" instead of "vaccine" are following conspiracy theories on the internets.
One of my mum's friends suffered from polio as a child, but survived. She thought with no long term effects. Now it turns out that frequently, the polio returns in old age, so while she is in every other way healthy and fit, she can no longer move about. Is the polio vaccine a bad thing?
We know that the vaccine scare concerning autism was a based on a hoax, while deaths from complications to measles, mumps and rubella are real. Should people not get their children vaccinated?
And now, it it pretty much an established fact that vaccines protect vulnerable people from serious corona disease and long COVID, even though it no longer protects against contracting the infection. And we already know that we don't know who is vulnerable. My fit and healthy colleague contracted COVID before the vaccine arrived, and now had long COVID. You bet he wishes the vaccine had been here earlier.
posted by mumimor at 9:26 AM on February 1, 2022 [25 favorites]
I don't know if you know it, theorique, but that is conspiracy speak right there. Everyone I know or have met or read about in the news who uses "the mRNA injection" instead of "vaccine" are following conspiracy theories on the internets.
One of my mum's friends suffered from polio as a child, but survived. She thought with no long term effects. Now it turns out that frequently, the polio returns in old age, so while she is in every other way healthy and fit, she can no longer move about. Is the polio vaccine a bad thing?
We know that the vaccine scare concerning autism was a based on a hoax, while deaths from complications to measles, mumps and rubella are real. Should people not get their children vaccinated?
And now, it it pretty much an established fact that vaccines protect vulnerable people from serious corona disease and long COVID, even though it no longer protects against contracting the infection. And we already know that we don't know who is vulnerable. My fit and healthy colleague contracted COVID before the vaccine arrived, and now had long COVID. You bet he wishes the vaccine had been here earlier.
posted by mumimor at 9:26 AM on February 1, 2022 [25 favorites]
Ottawa police setting up hate crime hotline after reports of assaults, threats
A homeless shelter, the Shepherds of Good Hope, says a client and security guard were assaulted on the weekend, with racial slurs yelled at the guard by two people who were identified as part of the protests.posted by heatherlogan at 10:11 AM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
A Confederate flag, swastika and yellow stars have been seen at different times throughout the protests.
Somerset ward Coun. Catherine McKenney says they heard from people who have been yelled at and harassed, including a young couple who had a Pride flag in their window.
Protesters yelled at the couple, who later discovered someone had defecated outside their door, according to McKenney. The harassment was so bad, police were called and the couple had to leave their apartment to stay with friends until it's safe for them to return, McKenney told CBC News.
This Twitter thread is pretty good because this is what anyone who is supporting this whole shite has learned.
posted by Kitteh at 10:16 AM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 10:16 AM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
At least it looks like O'Toole is having a very bad day. I had a headache all day until I read that, and now it's gone
posted by scruss at 10:54 AM on February 1, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by scruss at 10:54 AM on February 1, 2022 [5 favorites]
My half-baked theory is that the vast majority of these people are grain farmers, self-employed trades, and seasonal workers.
The actual protest has only been going on for a few days and it wasn't spontaneous; people had time to plan. There are lots of people who can either take a week or two off whenever they want (professionals of assorted varieties) or work camp jobs that give you week(s) at a time off just as part of their regular work schedule {EG: I work 2 weeks on & 1 week off, a family member works 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off}. If I'd taken two weeks vacation I could have spent a month participating in this protest and not have incurred an income penalty.
If anyone crunches the numbers I bet we find a majority of the participants are in these groups parallizing the participants in the US January 6th event.
posted by Mitheral at 11:07 AM on February 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
The actual protest has only been going on for a few days and it wasn't spontaneous; people had time to plan. There are lots of people who can either take a week or two off whenever they want (professionals of assorted varieties) or work camp jobs that give you week(s) at a time off just as part of their regular work schedule {EG: I work 2 weeks on & 1 week off, a family member works 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off}. If I'd taken two weeks vacation I could have spent a month participating in this protest and not have incurred an income penalty.
If anyone crunches the numbers I bet we find a majority of the participants are in these groups parallizing the participants in the US January 6th event.
posted by Mitheral at 11:07 AM on February 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
Israel is 66% vaccinated, not 90%.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 11:09 AM on February 1, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 11:09 AM on February 1, 2022 [8 favorites]
O'Toole said the first option is a "dead end" that will see the party become "the NDP of the right," a protest party rather than a viable alternative to the Liberal Party.NDP headquarters: Ouch.
A senior Conservative source close to O'Toole, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said this revolt stems from the December vote on the conversion therapy ban.In case anyone had any doubts of where the new leader is likely to be speaking from.
posted by Mitheral at 11:13 AM on February 1, 2022 [5 favorites]
Again, the mind boggles. Like, no percentage of white supremacy should be palatable, but wow, am I finding out a lot of people are okay with any amount as long as they believe in their cause.
posted by Kitteh at 11:20 AM on February 1, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 11:20 AM on February 1, 2022 [5 favorites]
Also, the National Post platforms openly bigoted far-right pro-fascism/white supremacist propaganda publication, and I find it horrifying that anyone here would link to it no matter what, let alone as dubious proof of alleged liberal malfeasance.
Yes, the true horror is just how far to the right/supremacist larger institutions (including the CPC) are sliding openly these days.
posted by warriorqueen at 11:37 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yes, the true horror is just how far to the right/supremacist larger institutions (including the CPC) are sliding openly these days.
posted by warriorqueen at 11:37 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's now day four. The remaining protestors are running low on fuel, money and supplies. Morale is dipping accordingly.
I wonder if their enthusiasm for freedom and the end of the portable toilet rental are connected.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:04 PM on February 1, 2022
I wonder if their enthusiasm for freedom and the end of the portable toilet rental are connected.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:04 PM on February 1, 2022
At least it looks like O'Toole is having a very bad day. I had a headache all day until I read that, and now it's gone
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:11 PM on February 1, 2022 [9 favorites]
[Calgary Heritage MP Bob Benzen] also criticized O'Toole for failing to "clearly stand up for the charter rights of Canadians during a pandemic," a reference to vaccine mandates.I have been reading for eighteen months about how the Charter is being ignored or trampled upon. I have yet to find evidence that those making this claim have read literally the first sentence of the document they venerate, which addresses their objections.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:11 PM on February 1, 2022 [9 favorites]
The Mr. O'Toole's Very Bad Week article that scruss posted above is quite the trip. Brings back some memories of the late-80s/early 90s Schism Era, when both the Reform Party and Bloc Québecois were birthed from and eventually destroyed the Progressive Conservatives. Also evocative of the almost-continuous factionalist disgruntlement of the Clark, Stanfield and Diefenbaker leadership periods. I've seen some comments elsewhere that figure the lack of a Harper-style STRONG LEADER might fracture the party, but if the caucus turfs O'Toole and comes down firmly in support of the Omicronvoy, I'm leaning towards this being the event that could both (a) finally chase out the few remaining Red Tories (or even the littlest-bit purple ones) still left in the party 20 years after the PC-Reform merger, and, more significantly, (b) bring the aforementioned Maxine Bernier and his Peoples Party devotees back into the fold, certainly a tasty target for Conservative hardliners wanting to increase vote share next election.
posted by hangashore at 12:26 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by hangashore at 12:26 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
ricochet biscuit: I have yet to find evidence that those making this claim have read literally the first sentence of the document they venerate, which addresses their objections.
I occasionally like to poke my Alberta friends with the fact that it was Peter Lougheed who pushed for the notwithstanding clause, so that Charter rights wouldn't be able to stop legislatures from doing whatever they wanted.
posted by clawsoon at 12:37 PM on February 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I occasionally like to poke my Alberta friends with the fact that it was Peter Lougheed who pushed for the notwithstanding clause, so that Charter rights wouldn't be able to stop legislatures from doing whatever they wanted.
posted by clawsoon at 12:37 PM on February 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
"At least it looks like O'Toole is having a very bad day."
And for the second time, we see how Maxime Bernier could have been positioned perfectly if he just bit his tongue and sat tight after 2017.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:43 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
And for the second time, we see how Maxime Bernier could have been positioned perfectly if he just bit his tongue and sat tight after 2017.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:43 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
Bernier thought he was a Preston Manning, but he was no Preston Manning.
posted by clawsoon at 12:46 PM on February 1, 2022
posted by clawsoon at 12:46 PM on February 1, 2022
(b) bring the aforementioned Maxine Bernier and his Peoples Party
Maxime. That said, I think the malapropism Maxine Vandate would be a splendid drag queen name, or maybe the handle of a roller derby competitor
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:33 PM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
Maxime. That said, I think the malapropism Maxine Vandate would be a splendid drag queen name, or maybe the handle of a roller derby competitor
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:33 PM on February 1, 2022 [11 favorites]
Maxime.
Dammit, you're right, my bad, appreciate the correction. Didn't mean for it to come out as a juvenile name-calling thing, my apologies to all for being sloppy.
posted by hangashore at 2:12 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Dammit, you're right, my bad, appreciate the correction. Didn't mean for it to come out as a juvenile name-calling thing, my apologies to all for being sloppy.
posted by hangashore at 2:12 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Didn't mean for it to come out as a juvenile name-calling thing,
No worries; it's an easy typo to make. Now, calling it the Peepee See Party is definitely wrong, and you should probably not refer to it as the Peepee See Party. Reminding Peepee See supporters that their current electoral record is 0-and-648 is merely a faux pas and should not be brought up unless you use the word "losers" in the same sentence.
For some reason, they seem to dislike being reminded of this, but I think you can cheer them by stressing that there is nowhere to go but up! True, their electoral success puts them on par with the Natural Law Party, The Bridge Party of Canada, the Work Less Party, and the Marijuana Party, and they are withing striking distance of equalling the success of Communist Party of Canada. Courage, mes amis!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:31 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
No worries; it's an easy typo to make. Now, calling it the Peepee See Party is definitely wrong, and you should probably not refer to it as the Peepee See Party. Reminding Peepee See supporters that their current electoral record is 0-and-648 is merely a faux pas and should not be brought up unless you use the word "losers" in the same sentence.
For some reason, they seem to dislike being reminded of this, but I think you can cheer them by stressing that there is nowhere to go but up! True, their electoral success puts them on par with the Natural Law Party, The Bridge Party of Canada, the Work Less Party, and the Marijuana Party, and they are withing striking distance of equalling the success of Communist Party of Canada. Courage, mes amis!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:31 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
Alberta RCMP assaulted in attempt to remove Coutts border blockade
posted by No Robots at 5:02 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by No Robots at 5:02 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Alberta towing companies reject requests to supply trucks to RCMP
posted by clawsoon at 5:12 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by clawsoon at 5:12 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
If the Western Standard ever told the truth, It would be by accident.
posted by Yowser at 5:55 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 5:55 PM on February 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
It would be nice if Ottawa applied parking violations upon idling bylaw violations to these vehicles. But serving the truck operators has risks
They don't do tickets by mail in Ottawa?
posted by eviemath at 8:11 PM on February 1, 2022
They don't do tickets by mail in Ottawa?
posted by eviemath at 8:11 PM on February 1, 2022
Does this also apply to 90% vaccinated and 60% boosted Israel, where cases have now grown from essentially nothing at the start of December 2021 to 5x the US case rate and 20x the Canadian case rate by the end of January 2022.
This has been covered above, but I think it is so important, since this is common anti-vax talking point (Israel is highly vaccinated, but still has lots of cases). It's simply a falsehood that sounds plausible because we all know Israel got a lot of doses into arms early on.
Israel has 67% of the population with two doses and 56% with three or four, according to the NYT. That's a much lower level of protection than Canada, especially when you add in levels of immunity from past infection.
Even if we were 100% vaccinated in Canada, we'd still have some Omicron cases, because it's just spreads that well, but we'd have many fewer than we do currently, far fewer people in hospital and far, far fewer people dying. To pretend otherwise is — without a doubt — anti-vax.
posted by ssg at 8:25 PM on February 1, 2022 [20 favorites]
This has been covered above, but I think it is so important, since this is common anti-vax talking point (Israel is highly vaccinated, but still has lots of cases). It's simply a falsehood that sounds plausible because we all know Israel got a lot of doses into arms early on.
Israel has 67% of the population with two doses and 56% with three or four, according to the NYT. That's a much lower level of protection than Canada, especially when you add in levels of immunity from past infection.
Even if we were 100% vaccinated in Canada, we'd still have some Omicron cases, because it's just spreads that well, but we'd have many fewer than we do currently, far fewer people in hospital and far, far fewer people dying. To pretend otherwise is — without a doubt — anti-vax.
posted by ssg at 8:25 PM on February 1, 2022 [20 favorites]
From the article above:
The photographer, who lives on the street and who CBC agreed not to name because of concerns for their safety, said they wanted "to share [the women's] bravery."
The photographer was perfectly okay snapping pictures of these women and posting it to social media, apparently in such a way that the street where the ladies live can be identified, but isn't willing to give their name because of safety concerns. What about the safety of the women standing up to the truckers? Did they give any thought to that?
posted by sardonyx at 6:50 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
The photographer, who lives on the street and who CBC agreed not to name because of concerns for their safety, said they wanted "to share [the women's] bravery."
The photographer was perfectly okay snapping pictures of these women and posting it to social media, apparently in such a way that the street where the ladies live can be identified, but isn't willing to give their name because of safety concerns. What about the safety of the women standing up to the truckers? Did they give any thought to that?
posted by sardonyx at 6:50 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
I mean, the women were interviewed and posed for additional photos for the CBC, so I imagine if they had chosen not to be identified, they had that option open to them. One of them posted the photo to social media herself.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:13 AM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 8:13 AM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]
Sure. After the fact (from what I can tell). It could be that once word got out, the women just figured they didn't have a lot of choice in the matter, so they had better make the best of it. Or Maybe not. I'm probably just being touchy, but the photographer requesting anonymity is just rubbing me the wrong way. I'm probably just in a mood.
posted by sardonyx at 9:34 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by sardonyx at 9:34 AM on February 2, 2022
I've been looking at reports from locals on Reddit and then at the news and the difference is amazing. Mainstream media seems to be afraid of antagonizing the protestors, too. Fox has the headline "Canada 'Freedom Convoy': Ottawa police set up hate crime hotline despite admitting protests remain peaceful". Meanwhile, Ottawa residents have had their lives disrupted for days and many have been deprived of sleep so long that it probably violates the Geneva Conventions.
According to locals, the convoy is making it difficult for them to park. Instead of ticketing the trucks causing the problem, though, police are ticketing the locals. There's video of a sleep-deprived man confronting protestors; one of the protestors made a reaction video from his truck, where he calls the man and NPC normie and a Karen, and makes actual 'reeeeeee' sounds over the video. Like, the protestor can only speak in internet cliches, but somehow it's the other guy that's the NPC.
posted by LindsayIrene at 10:00 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
According to locals, the convoy is making it difficult for them to park. Instead of ticketing the trucks causing the problem, though, police are ticketing the locals. There's video of a sleep-deprived man confronting protestors; one of the protestors made a reaction video from his truck, where he calls the man and NPC normie and a Karen, and makes actual 'reeeeeee' sounds over the video. Like, the protestor can only speak in internet cliches, but somehow it's the other guy that's the NPC.
posted by LindsayIrene at 10:00 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Fox isn't afraid of antagonizing the protestors, Fox is on the side of the protestors.
posted by Justinian at 10:10 AM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 10:10 AM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, turns out meeting with the truckers wasn’t enough to save Erin O’Toole’s job.
posted by saturday_morning at 10:17 AM on February 2, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by saturday_morning at 10:17 AM on February 2, 2022 [5 favorites]
I mean, I expected that from Fox. The wimpiness of other news outlets isn't exactly a shock, but it is discouraging. Sooner or later, a local is going to lose their mind and vandalize a truck or punch a protestor, and hoo boy, that'll get spun hard.
posted by LindsayIrene at 10:18 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by LindsayIrene at 10:18 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
O'Toole was trying to walk a balance precisely no-one was interested in.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2022 [7 favorites]
Sooner or later, a local is going to lose their mind and vandalize a truck or punch a protestor, and hoo boy, that'll get spun hard.
That's my worry - this will escalate soon if some consequences don't start happening, and it will get ugly. There were Twitter rumours last night that there would be rolling blockades in Alberta today; nothing has happened that I am aware of, but I can see people loosing it if they tie up Deerfoot or Stoney Trail in Calgary at certain times.
posted by nubs at 10:35 AM on February 2, 2022
That's my worry - this will escalate soon if some consequences don't start happening, and it will get ugly. There were Twitter rumours last night that there would be rolling blockades in Alberta today; nothing has happened that I am aware of, but I can see people loosing it if they tie up Deerfoot or Stoney Trail in Calgary at certain times.
posted by nubs at 10:35 AM on February 2, 2022
See ya Erin, wouldn't wanna be ya. Hapless fucker tried to be Romney when the base was screaming for Trump. The caucus vote wasn't even close, 73 of 118 votes against. Speaking of hapless, imagine being one of the 45 loyalists now, desperately pleading allegiance to the new orthodoxy while the Long Knives are being sharpened.
posted by hangashore at 10:52 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by hangashore at 10:52 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Sooner or later, a local is going to lose their mind and vandalize a truck or punch a protestor, and hoo boy, that'll get spun hard."
Making the rounds on my feeds yesterday was a tweeted video of some protestor whose truck was egged. "So unfair", he said. They were peaceful protestors, he said, and these people just wanted to wreck stuff. "Fight the power", exclaimed the middle aged white guy.
Uh huh. Circling around town with horns blaring for four, five days, and the sleep-deprived locals egged your truck. So unfair.
Cry harder.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:54 AM on February 2, 2022 [8 favorites]
Making the rounds on my feeds yesterday was a tweeted video of some protestor whose truck was egged. "So unfair", he said. They were peaceful protestors, he said, and these people just wanted to wreck stuff. "Fight the power", exclaimed the middle aged white guy.
Uh huh. Circling around town with horns blaring for four, five days, and the sleep-deprived locals egged your truck. So unfair.
Cry harder.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:54 AM on February 2, 2022 [8 favorites]
Sooner or later, a local is going to lose their mind and vandalize a truck
Sigh - I have so many ideas with this - but...
posted by rozcakj at 12:32 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Sigh - I have so many ideas with this - but...
posted by rozcakj at 12:32 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
I note that one can order a set of 12 caltrops for $50. I’m sure one could come up with cheaper homemade ones.
posted by eviemath at 2:34 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by eviemath at 2:34 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Caltrops accomplish, what? Getting the trucks stuck right where they are?
Righteous vandalism is fun, but ending the protest can’t be in the hands of normal citizens. The police need to step up and do it. If they won’t, the military.
posted by saturday_morning at 3:03 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Righteous vandalism is fun, but ending the protest can’t be in the hands of normal citizens. The police need to step up and do it. If they won’t, the military.
posted by saturday_morning at 3:03 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
→
... thermite is surprisingly hard to make correctly, and an igniter that will work in Ottawa weather harder still. And it all leaves a horrible mess anyway.
posted by scruss at 3:29 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Sigh - I have so many ideas with this - but...
... thermite is surprisingly hard to make correctly, and an igniter that will work in Ottawa weather harder still. And it all leaves a horrible mess anyway.
posted by scruss at 3:29 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Well, in Alberta it looks like our brave leader, defender of the province from nasty foreign and domestic foes who think maybe we should take a few steps to get out of the oil biz, is about to capitulate. There's a caucus meeting going on now, and the public statements on lifting restrictions has gone from "end of March" to "end of February" to "within days" over the course of the past few days.
posted by nubs at 3:36 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 3:36 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Well that’s going to also be a headache for the rest of Canada what with rotational workers and other bringing the inevitable increased COVID cases back to other provinces. :(
posted by eviemath at 3:48 PM on February 2, 2022
posted by eviemath at 3:48 PM on February 2, 2022
Alberta: Being a pain in the butt to the rest of Confederation since 1905
posted by nubs at 3:51 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 3:51 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Caltrops/thermite?
Well - maybe I have less ideas than I thought... My thinking was a very large flathead screwdriver and a rubber-mallet - pretty sure that would puncture a few tires and yet not be illegal to carry around in a toolbelt.
Sure - they would be stuck for a bit - but, doesn't their organizing group have a slush fund to help-out? (/sarcasm)
posted by rozcakj at 5:32 AM on February 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Well - maybe I have less ideas than I thought... My thinking was a very large flathead screwdriver and a rubber-mallet - pretty sure that would puncture a few tires and yet not be illegal to carry around in a toolbelt.
Sure - they would be stuck for a bit - but, doesn't their organizing group have a slush fund to help-out? (/sarcasm)
posted by rozcakj at 5:32 AM on February 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Read an interesting twitter thread this morning from someone who used to work in the insurance biz - the basic upshot is that commercial vehicle insurance doesn't allow for the vehicle to be used for personal reasons, so they likely have no liability coverage right now. So if something happens, there's a big messy expensive lawsuit problem. But it also means that everything on the streets could get impounded.
I guess the upshot is that there a lots of legal options to be pursued right now, but the fact that they aren't is a indication in itself of whats going on. Which we already knew.
posted by nubs at 7:39 AM on February 3, 2022 [10 favorites]
I guess the upshot is that there a lots of legal options to be pursued right now, but the fact that they aren't is a indication in itself of whats going on. Which we already knew.
posted by nubs at 7:39 AM on February 3, 2022 [10 favorites]
Please tell me there is a guerrilla group out there madly printing that slogan on a bumper sticker and then sneaking out under the cover of darkness to affix them to blockade vehicles.
posted by Mitheral at 2:27 PM on February 3, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 2:27 PM on February 3, 2022 [7 favorites]
Toronto hospitals suggest that staff wear plainclothes when coming into work due to weekend 'Freedom Convoy'
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:58 PM on February 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:58 PM on February 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
Embrace the Fascists - satirical song by Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird that also seems appropriate to this situation
posted by eviemath at 5:58 PM on February 3, 2022
posted by eviemath at 5:58 PM on February 3, 2022
> Well - maybe I have less ideas than I thought... My thinking was a very large flathead screwdriver and a rubber-mallet - pretty sure that would puncture a few tires and yet not be illegal to carry around in a toolbelt.
Not a good idea - when a truck tire explodes, it can take your arm off.
(Demo with a mannekin)
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:11 PM on February 3, 2022 [4 favorites]
Not a good idea - when a truck tire explodes, it can take your arm off.
(Demo with a mannekin)
posted by sebastienbailard at 6:11 PM on February 3, 2022 [4 favorites]
So, the organizers are white supremacists, every major hate group has people here, they're actively recruiting into private chat rooms the naive young things who do show up "Don't trust the MSM, read Infowars!", and the Ottawa Police Service has basically sat on its hands trying to de-escalate things, while the white supremacists dig in and make plans:
https://twitter.com/regina_bateson/status/1489371860320018436?s=21
https://twitter.com/regina_bateson/status/1489371860320018436?s=21
Regina Bateson@regina_batesonposted by sebastienbailard at 7:52 PM on February 3, 2022 [5 favorites]
@OttawaPolice
seems to think this situation will magically de-escalate itself. 3 reasons why, unfortunately, I think they’re wrong. Downwards arrow
(Ps. I tweet about a lot of random stuff, but violent collective action & contentious politics are things I actually study!)
1. Who’s here. The moderates went back to work on Monday. More extreme folks stayed. And after a week of intense media coverage and social media activity, this weekend will draw a different crowd than last weekend.
2. Capacity for high-risk collective action. Sure, the convoy may have been disorganized to start with. But they’ve spent a week building relationships, assessing skills, making plans & developing trust. Their ability & willingness to do risky stuff together has gone Up, not Down.
3. Potential for conflict w/counter-protestors. This is when similar scenarios elsewhere have resulted in injuries & fatalities. Thus far, counter-protestors = a few local residents. But a bigger counter-protest is planned for Sat. HIGH RISK, especially given hands-off policing!
@OttawaPolice
says there’s no policing solution, political leaders aren’t negotiating & convoy is well-equipped for long stay. So how does this end? My best guess is conflict & escalation, with casualties and/or property damage finally triggering more aggressive police response.
@regina_bateson
It pains me to say this, but I hope folks like
@JimWatsonOttawa
are actively thinking about examples like Charlottesville. Obviously it would be terrible for a similar tragedy to occur in Ottawa. Stay safe everyone, and be careful this weekend!
5:54 PM · Feb 3, 2022·
Mayor Watson, (who's severely overwhelmed by situations that don't involve performing sex acts for any random developer seeking special dispensation to ignore design and planning guidelines), finally called in the RCMP a few hours ago.
Beyond that, (if City Hall isn't taken out by a truck bomb over the weekend), he'll take up matters on Monday: "In an update to City Councillors, Mayor Jim Watson says a special council meeting will be held Monday to discuss the impact of the Convoy on residents and businesses."
posted by sebastienbailard at 8:05 PM on February 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Beyond that, (if City Hall isn't taken out by a truck bomb over the weekend), he'll take up matters on Monday: "In an update to City Councillors, Mayor Jim Watson says a special council meeting will be held Monday to discuss the impact of the Convoy on residents and businesses."
posted by sebastienbailard at 8:05 PM on February 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Alberta has capitulated and will begin rolling back restrictions next week; Kenney has also promised to look at the Municipal Government Act to see what can be done to stop the municipalities from passing their own bylaws. He said all this during one of his Facebook Live appearances, which allow him to bypass the media and handpicked the questions.
Sorry, no links. Too tired and disgusted
posted by nubs at 8:46 PM on February 3, 2022 [6 favorites]
Sorry, no links. Too tired and disgusted
posted by nubs at 8:46 PM on February 3, 2022 [6 favorites]
"special council meeting will be held Monday to discuss the impact of the Convoy on residents and businesses."
ooooo. A discussion! I feel safer already, thanks Jim.
God I can't wait until he's gone.
posted by aclevername at 11:31 PM on February 3, 2022
ooooo. A discussion! I feel safer already, thanks Jim.
God I can't wait until he's gone.
posted by aclevername at 11:31 PM on February 3, 2022
scruss: I'm with Jessica Davis (head of Insight Threat Intelligence) who is quoted in the same article as saying: This document is largely incomprehensible and is completely divorced from our political reality. It's one find and replace away from full-on SovCit mind goo.
I finally got around to reading the MOU (which has apparently been signed by 300,000 Canadians). It is, indeed, completely divorced from Canadian political reality, but instead of being one step away from SovCit mind goo, I'd say it's half a step away from Robespierre's Committee of Public Safety. It's all about ensuring our freedom by having an unelected committee override all of our elected bodies.
posted by clawsoon at 5:45 AM on February 4, 2022 [3 favorites]
I finally got around to reading the MOU (which has apparently been signed by 300,000 Canadians). It is, indeed, completely divorced from Canadian political reality, but instead of being one step away from SovCit mind goo, I'd say it's half a step away from Robespierre's Committee of Public Safety. It's all about ensuring our freedom by having an unelected committee override all of our elected bodies.
posted by clawsoon at 5:45 AM on February 4, 2022 [3 favorites]
So, there's a big counterprotest being (poorly?) planned for tomorrow. And now the Ottawa Police have announced that they're going to start enforcing all the laws related, against both the original FluTruxKlan and any parallel or counter-demonstrations.
What a truly remarkable coincidence of timing.
Remarkable.
Coincidental.
Truly.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:40 AM on February 4, 2022 [14 favorites]
What a truly remarkable coincidence of timing.
Remarkable.
Coincidental.
Truly.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:40 AM on February 4, 2022 [14 favorites]
Wow, that MOU is nuts. All the signature blocks are predated "on this ___, day of ___________, 2021", so either they are time travelers or don't know what year it is.
Thanks to the MOU, I learned that the trucker occupation is called "Operation Bear Hug".
posted by fimbulvetr at 7:04 AM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
Thanks to the MOU, I learned that the trucker occupation is called "Operation Bear Hug".
posted by fimbulvetr at 7:04 AM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
The plus side of situation in Alberta is that I think the teachers may have a way of stopping the new curriculum; I'm envisioning a fleet of school buses blocking the border...
posted by nubs at 7:21 AM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 7:21 AM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is white privilege writ large. I am just stunned that these fuckwits can stockpile fuel near Parliament and anyone with any authority is like, "It's fine. This is completely okay."
posted by Kitteh at 8:10 AM on February 4, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 8:10 AM on February 4, 2022 [5 favorites]
Didn’t it come out that some big money interests were ultimately behind the anti-lockdown protests in the US back closer to the start of the pandemic (because they were losing money or something and didn’t care about peon’s lives)? This feels remarkably similar to the occupation of the Michigan State House and similar. Especially in the coordination between events in different parts of the country - the speed with which that has happened is sus.
posted by eviemath at 9:02 AM on February 4, 2022
posted by eviemath at 9:02 AM on February 4, 2022
I'd treat the big money in regard to this protest in the same way I treat everything that's said about George Soros in regard to left-wing protests: It's entirely possible that big money is coming in, but it's tapping into a vein of feeling that's already there. Conservatives I know have been itching for a while to replace O'Toole with a Fuck Trudeau flag.
posted by clawsoon at 9:14 AM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by clawsoon at 9:14 AM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
Not a good idea - when a truck tire explodes, it can take your arm off.
Thanks - I was worried about that - frankly, I should have just asked several truck drivers and tire specialists who are in my extended family. (None of whom support this nonsense, all of whom are vaccinated - even the one who might present as "redneck")
posted by rozcakj at 9:47 AM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
Thanks - I was worried about that - frankly, I should have just asked several truck drivers and tire specialists who are in my extended family. (None of whom support this nonsense, all of whom are vaccinated - even the one who might present as "redneck")
posted by rozcakj at 9:47 AM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
Word has gone out about a counter-protest / worker protection brigade on hospital row in Toronto as the FluTruxKlan will descend on Queen's Park this weekend. I am not ... optimistic ... this will remain peaceful.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:00 AM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:00 AM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
"The demonstrators in the red zone area remain highly organized, well-funded [and] extremely committed to resisting all attempts to end the demonstration safely," Sloly said.
"This remains, as it was from the beginning, an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration."
He said he and other unnamed city officials have received death threats in the last two days that are under investigation.
Deputy chief Steve Bell said Friday their intelligence suggests 300 to 400 more trucks, 1,000 to 2,000 more protesters and up to 1,000 counter-protesters could come downtown for the weekend. He asked counter-protesters not to come.
I note he did not ask the additional protestors not to come.
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:19 AM on February 4, 2022 [7 favorites]
"This remains, as it was from the beginning, an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration."
He said he and other unnamed city officials have received death threats in the last two days that are under investigation.
Deputy chief Steve Bell said Friday their intelligence suggests 300 to 400 more trucks, 1,000 to 2,000 more protesters and up to 1,000 counter-protesters could come downtown for the weekend. He asked counter-protesters not to come.
I note he did not ask the additional protestors not to come.
posted by fimbulvetr at 10:19 AM on February 4, 2022 [7 favorites]
Here is Kenney's statement about the Municipal Government Act. Whether or not he's just saying things because he hopes it sounds good and people will forget or if this is a real thing, I don't know.
posted by nubs at 10:50 AM on February 4, 2022
posted by nubs at 10:50 AM on February 4, 2022
Maybe the counter-protesters should avoid Ottawa. Since Kenney and others are currently showing Canada that a great sea change has come in how authorities handle blockade-style protests, it's obviously time to blockade the rail lines again and declare the blockades won't stop until the protest in Ottawa is stopped.
And following the noble lead of the Convoy people, the counter-protesters should include a small antifa contingent with a memorandum calling for the resignation of all CPC members and their replacement with an anarcho-syndicalist governing committee (acting as a sort of executive officer) that will work to revoke the registration of the CPC.
posted by house-goblin at 11:18 AM on February 4, 2022 [5 favorites]
And following the noble lead of the Convoy people, the counter-protesters should include a small antifa contingent with a memorandum calling for the resignation of all CPC members and their replacement with an anarcho-syndicalist governing committee (acting as a sort of executive officer) that will work to revoke the registration of the CPC.
posted by house-goblin at 11:18 AM on February 4, 2022 [5 favorites]
People should evacuate wherever the trucks go. Shut down every food, water, and tobacco source until they leave. Go on strike against the strikers.
posted by rhizome at 12:01 PM on February 4, 2022
posted by rhizome at 12:01 PM on February 4, 2022
Interestingly, I think that's essentially the sort of action that gave us the term boycott -- not people refusing to patronize a business because of its practices, as it is used now, but businesses refusing to serve a particular customer because of their practices.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:39 PM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 12:39 PM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
The would-be counter-protesters already live in Ottawa, including in the residential neighbourhoods currently entering their second week of occupation by terrorists. The "counter" protest being developed is against the city police for doing nothing to resolve the occupation and literal torture of downtown residents.
posted by heatherlogan at 1:30 PM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 1:30 PM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
'Slow-roll' protests coming to Hamilton-Niagara.
Which is not surprising. Plenty of people in the peninsula protest the Covid restrictions they never followed in the first place.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:37 PM on February 4, 2022
Which is not surprising. Plenty of people in the peninsula protest the Covid restrictions they never followed in the first place.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:37 PM on February 4, 2022
Interestingly, I think that's essentially the sort of action that gave us the term boycott
Something something Captain Charles Boycott?
posted by clawsoon at 2:20 PM on February 4, 2022
Something something Captain Charles Boycott?
posted by clawsoon at 2:20 PM on February 4, 2022
Not a good idea - when a truck tire explodes, it can take your arm off.Using pliers to destroy the pins in tire valves is a technique I've heard about. I suspect that's also not a good idea in this case, but it's unlikely to explode. The trucker might. (Wearing impact resistant sunglasses and standing to the side would be a good choice should anyone ignore my advice not to try it.)
posted by eotvos at 3:30 PM on February 4, 2022 [2 favorites]
^ You just use valve stem pliers to take the pin out. Actually bending the pins with regular pliers isn't likely to work. The whole valve stem is bendy rubber, and the actual metal part is not very long, so I doubt you'd get enough leverage. And if you want to put holes in truck tires, you use a drill. That's what happened to all the containers at a place I worked once during a strike.
posted by rodlymight at 4:41 PM on February 4, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by rodlymight at 4:41 PM on February 4, 2022 [5 favorites]
$9.8M class action lawsuit filed against 'Freedom Convoy' organizers
posted by heatherlogan at 6:07 PM on February 4, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 6:07 PM on February 4, 2022 [3 favorites]
https://www.twitch.tv/markeast lives in Ontario and is really fed up with the far right convoy occupation going on right now, in Ottawa.
So, he's been streaming the trucker's chats in real time, going on in their Zello channels. And many people are trolling the occupiers on their Zello channels with a song called 'Ram Ranch'. (The song, and consequently the Twitch scream, are VERY NSFW, with explicit sexual language.)
However, this Twitch channel also got together and decided to make a website dedicated to both making fun of the truckers. Also to encourage listeners to donate to many different organizations, particularly those based in the center of Ottawa and those devoted to Indigenous causes. This website is work safe; it's located here: https://ram-ranch.ca/.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:59 PM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
So, he's been streaming the trucker's chats in real time, going on in their Zello channels. And many people are trolling the occupiers on their Zello channels with a song called 'Ram Ranch'. (The song, and consequently the Twitch scream, are VERY NSFW, with explicit sexual language.)
However, this Twitch channel also got together and decided to make a website dedicated to both making fun of the truckers. Also to encourage listeners to donate to many different organizations, particularly those based in the center of Ottawa and those devoted to Indigenous causes. This website is work safe; it's located here: https://ram-ranch.ca/.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:59 PM on February 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
Polling by party:
posted by clawsoon at 8:12 AM on February 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
The poll, conducted by Abacus Data, found that the public’s reaction and sympathy for the convoy in Ottawa and similar protests across the country were divisive and responses mostly correlated to one’s political orientation. People’s Party (82 per cent) and Green Party (57 per cent) voters are more likely to feel aligned with the protesters while the large majority of Liberal (75 per cent), NDP (77 per cent), and Bloc Québécois (81 per cent) voters feel they have very little in common. Conservative party voters were divided, with 46 per cent saying they have a lot in common with how the protesters view things and 54 per cent saying they have little in common.Overall, it's about 1/3 vs 2/3 of Canadians.
posted by clawsoon at 8:12 AM on February 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
Our fucking Green Party is a disgrace. Just gotta say.
posted by saturday_morning at 8:43 AM on February 5, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by saturday_morning at 8:43 AM on February 5, 2022 [4 favorites]
Ottawa police hire elite crisis-management firm to handle protest messaging: Navigator, with tagline 'When you can't afford to lose,' is working on Ottawa police communications
Of course.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:51 AM on February 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Of course.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:51 AM on February 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Our fucking Green Party is a disgrace.
a family member married into a family who were eco-conscious long before it was a thing. The grandfather was a conscientious objector during World War 2. They'd been "back to the land" long before the hippies started showing up. One of them ended up a researcher/writer for David Suzuki. But get a few drinks into them and it didn't take long before de-population and anti-immigration sentiments entered the discussion, always attached to certain countries/cultures where the skin colour wasn't what you'd call white ...
Smart, insightful, loving people in all kinds of ways, but with a monster inside.
posted by philip-random at 9:15 AM on February 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
a family member married into a family who were eco-conscious long before it was a thing. The grandfather was a conscientious objector during World War 2. They'd been "back to the land" long before the hippies started showing up. One of them ended up a researcher/writer for David Suzuki. But get a few drinks into them and it didn't take long before de-population and anti-immigration sentiments entered the discussion, always attached to certain countries/cultures where the skin colour wasn't what you'd call white ...
Smart, insightful, loving people in all kinds of ways, but with a monster inside.
posted by philip-random at 9:15 AM on February 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/sl6nob/convoy_megathread_39/...
Winter-Use-837·1 hr. agoposted by sebastienbailard at 9:38 AM on February 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Spoke with a few security experts recently. They all agree there is a zero chance this doesn't end with violence. There is a core group of radicals that are refusing to leave no matter what. Even if the police launch tear gas and clear out 90% of the protesters there will still be some violent arrests in the end.
They're saying it's not only a fluid situation, but a deteriorating one as well. It's unknown at this time whether there will be riots. One person said that in deteriorating third-world countries, the progression of civilian unrest is usually: Rotten fruit -> Rocks -> Fire bombs -> Bullets.
So I think we're pretty lucky that it's just eggs at the moment.
Freedom Convoy GoFundMe shut down
And they've already moved to a new fundraising site.
posted by fimbulvetr at 9:42 AM on February 5, 2022
And they've already moved to a new fundraising site.
posted by fimbulvetr at 9:42 AM on February 5, 2022
And they've already moved to a new fundraising site
...that identifies itself as "Christian", and has handled fundraisers for Kyle Rittenhouse, the Proud Boys, and the cops who shot Breonna Taylor.
posted by quizzical at 10:02 AM on February 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
...that identifies itself as "Christian", and has handled fundraisers for Kyle Rittenhouse, the Proud Boys, and the cops who shot Breonna Taylor.
posted by quizzical at 10:02 AM on February 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
There's a Tiktok campaign to get the new fundraiser shut down by the website host as well.
posted by peppermind at 10:38 AM on February 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by peppermind at 10:38 AM on February 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
That so-called Christian site is getting slammed by internet users, and is therefore having difficulty getting new donations. I'd encourage anyone who's curious to have a look at it...and then another look...
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 11:08 AM on February 5, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 11:08 AM on February 5, 2022 [4 favorites]
GiveSendGo is back up with heavy DDOS protection, alas.
posted by scruss at 11:34 AM on February 5, 2022
posted by scruss at 11:34 AM on February 5, 2022
For anyone who wants to know more about GiveSendGo: Talia Lavin's April 5, 2021, article in The Nation, Crowdfunding Hate in the Name of Christ
posted by virago at 12:00 PM on February 5, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by virago at 12:00 PM on February 5, 2022 [6 favorites]
I think this thread, Flu-Trux-Klan, maybe should be deprecated in favour of these newer threads:
Current Ottawa occupation thread: https://www.metafilter.com/194285/The-Siege-of-Ottawa-Counterprotest-Today
Current Canada politics thread: https://www.metafilter.com/194240/Erin-OToole-ousted-as-leader-of-the-Conservative-Party-of-Canada
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:30 PM on February 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
Current Ottawa occupation thread: https://www.metafilter.com/194285/The-Siege-of-Ottawa-Counterprotest-Today
Current Canada politics thread: https://www.metafilter.com/194240/Erin-OToole-ousted-as-leader-of-the-Conservative-Party-of-Canada
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:30 PM on February 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
People’s Party (82 per cent) and Green Party (57 per cent) voters are more likely to feel aligned with the protesters while the large majority of Liberal (75 per cent), NDP (77 per cent), and Bloc Québécois (81 per cent) voters feel they have very little in common. Conservative party voters were divided, with 46 per cent saying they have a lot in common with how the protesters view things and 54 per cent saying they have little in common.
The problem with this kind of polling is that it is a joke to reach these sorts of conclusions from such a small sample. Out of 1410 people they surveyed, you can expect about 21 were Green voters, 45 were PPC voters, 70 were Bloc voters and so on.
And they want to tell us what Green Party voters think based on their online survey of 21 people? Or what PPC voters think based on 45 people? That's way too small of a sample to say anything meaningful. These pollsters always report their margin of error is within some small percentage, 19 times out of 20, but that only applies to something you ask of the whole group. For a subgroup, the margin of error is much, much larger, so large that their conclusions are just not statistically significant — and it's irresponsible for them to release them to the media like this and irresponsible for journalists and editors to print them.
posted by ssg at 3:02 PM on February 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
The problem with this kind of polling is that it is a joke to reach these sorts of conclusions from such a small sample. Out of 1410 people they surveyed, you can expect about 21 were Green voters, 45 were PPC voters, 70 were Bloc voters and so on.
And they want to tell us what Green Party voters think based on their online survey of 21 people? Or what PPC voters think based on 45 people? That's way too small of a sample to say anything meaningful. These pollsters always report their margin of error is within some small percentage, 19 times out of 20, but that only applies to something you ask of the whole group. For a subgroup, the margin of error is much, much larger, so large that their conclusions are just not statistically significant — and it's irresponsible for them to release them to the media like this and irresponsible for journalists and editors to print them.
posted by ssg at 3:02 PM on February 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Fair point, ssg. I'm guessing that the Conservative and Liberal numbers would be more accurate, given that they should each have a few hundred. (Which makes the Conservative split perhaps the most interesting thing about the poll.)
posted by clawsoon at 3:48 PM on February 5, 2022
posted by clawsoon at 3:48 PM on February 5, 2022
Mod note: Maybe let's not post both the full text of the right-wing call to violence AND a link to their fundraiser.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 3:17 PM on February 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 3:17 PM on February 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
New Zealand protesters block streets outside parliament, Reuters, February 8, 2022.
posted by cenoxo at 6:25 AM on February 8, 2022
posted by cenoxo at 6:25 AM on February 8, 2022
• Australian lawmakers fear escalation of Canberra protests influenced by Canadian truckers, Michael E. Miller & Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 2/8/2022.
• Canadian officials caution against ‘foreign interference’ as U.S. Republicans back ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests, Amy Cheng, Washington Post, 2/8/2022.
• Alaska truck drivers rally against vaccine mandates, Alena Naiden, Anchorage Daily News, Updated: 2/8/2022.
• Major U.S.-Canada border crossing obstructed as ‘Freedom Convoy’ trucker protest escalates; Amanda Coletta, Annabelle Timsit, Jennifer Hassan; Washington Post, 2/8/2022.
posted by cenoxo at 11:50 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
• Canadian officials caution against ‘foreign interference’ as U.S. Republicans back ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests, Amy Cheng, Washington Post, 2/8/2022.
• Alaska truck drivers rally against vaccine mandates, Alena Naiden, Anchorage Daily News, Updated: 2/8/2022.
• Major U.S.-Canada border crossing obstructed as ‘Freedom Convoy’ trucker protest escalates; Amanda Coletta, Annabelle Timsit, Jennifer Hassan; Washington Post, 2/8/2022.
posted by cenoxo at 11:50 AM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Startling Trump interference points to GoFundMe convoy campaign manipulation, Sandy Garossino, National Observer Opinion, February 4th 2022:
posted by cenoxo at 3:30 PM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
"Donald Trump is endorsing the Ottawa convoy, calling Justin Trudeau a “far left lunatic who has destroyed Canada,” and backing an attempt to bring a similar truck protest to DC. That campaign, one of the largest in GoFundMe history, was, as they say, cancelled. So if you think there’s something extremely fishy about the GoFundMe “Freedom” campaign, you’re onto something."Follow the crooked money trail and eventually you'll find The Donald and/or his minions.
posted by cenoxo at 3:30 PM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ottawa truckers' convoy galvanizes far-right worldwide — Leading Republicans, right-wing influencers and white supremacist groups have jumped at the chance to promote the standoff in Ottawa to a global audience., POLITICO, Mark Scott, 02/06/2022:
posted by cenoxo at 9:43 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
...Similar "convoys" are now being organized across the U.S.. A Telegram channel boasting almost 40,000 followers is sharing updates on regional protests planned in states from Alabama to Wyoming, based on POLITICO's review of social media activity.More in the article.
The social media group provides regular updates on how to support the Canadian movement, including posts from more mainstream social media about the ongoing protests. It also acts as a rallying point for diverse communities who oppose official government vaccine policies.
The goal, based on reams of social media messages, is to organize similar nationwide protests that will eventually descend on Washington, sometime in early March. "Canada took eight months to plan their [protest,]" one of the Telegram channel organizers wrote on Feb. 5. "The U.S. is planning this all in weeks."
The mass anti-vaccine organizing is not limited to just North America. Since early February, similar protests have also sprouted up across Europe — often using encrypted Telegram channels and country-specific hashtags under which supporters can rally. Many of these Telegram channels have voiced their opposition to violent protests. But the groups also have seen an influx of more extreme content, including the posting and resharing of antisemitic and white supremacist material.
Far-right groups have taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to tap into the anti-government rhetoric of the anti-vaccine movement, repeatedly posting claims in these social media channels in favor of their extremist beliefs, based on POLITICO's analysis of six months of social media activity.
Upcoming convoys are being planned in all 27 European Union countries. Organizers are also preparing to descend on Brussels — home to the EU's main institutions — in force on Feb. 14....
posted by cenoxo at 9:43 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
The hacked account and suspicious donations behind the Canadian trucker protests - Grid, 08/02/2022 Anya van Wagtendonk, Benjamin Powers, and Steve Reilly
"The entity behind some of the largest Facebook groups supporting the protests is an unknown person or persons who used the Facebook account of a Missouri woman. She says her account on the platform was hacked and stolen."
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:20 AM on February 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
"The entity behind some of the largest Facebook groups supporting the protests is an unknown person or persons who used the Facebook account of a Missouri woman. She says her account on the platform was hacked and stolen."
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:20 AM on February 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted; folks we don't need to be signal boosting credulous defenses of this astroturf garbage from "controversial" figures. theorique, this is the latest in a well established pattern, so I'm closing your account.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:14 AM on February 9, 2022 [11 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:14 AM on February 9, 2022 [11 favorites]
Paris and Brussels set to be hit by Canadian-style convoy protests over the weekend, Eric Reguly, The Globe and Mail, Feb 9, 2022.
posted by cenoxo at 11:18 AM on February 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by cenoxo at 11:18 AM on February 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
As an aside, maybe last week I saw a headline in the BBC news that started with “freedom convoy“ and that right there helps explain how fucked up so many media reports are about so much news. Why in hell would reporters use that phrase before even explaining what the hell it was like “truckers protest” or whatever. Grrrr.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:52 PM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Bella Donna at 12:52 PM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
U.S. trucker convoy to Washington gathers steam — The organizers of the “People’s Convoy” announced that truckers will be gathering in Indio, Calif., on March 4 — and rolling on from there [toward Washington, D.C.]., POLITICO, Mark Scott, 02/09/2022:
…Organizers have dubbed their movement "the People's Convoy" and say they are working with two groups — Freedom Fighter Nation and Restore Liberty — whose founders are closely tied to right wing politics, based on POLITICO's review of social media and online records.posted by cenoxo at 1:15 PM on February 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
That includes Leigh Dundas, a California lawyer and founder of the Freedom Fighter Nation, who gave a speech on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots calling for Trump supporters to kill those whom she claimed had aided foreign governments in undermining the 2020 presidential election, based on a video posted on Twitter.
"A lot of this has worrying parallels to the build-up to the Jan. 6 riots," said Ciaran O'Connor, an analyst for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank that tracks online extremism and which has been following the global protests. "It's concerning how this may play out if they get to D.C."…
Oh, for fucks' sake. Glad I don't go downtown these days.
posted by fedward at 2:15 PM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by fedward at 2:15 PM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Indio...
Cool, time to go sit down somewhere in the middle of Interstate 10 I guess.
posted by rhizome at 7:31 PM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cool, time to go sit down somewhere in the middle of Interstate 10 I guess.
posted by rhizome at 7:31 PM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
These Bannon-funded covidiots have infected some minds in NZ too, been crazy things happening in Wellington today.
A major issue (intentional I'd say) is that it weakens all valid protest as well as surfacing absolute tin foil hat stuff. I know three people lost down this rabbit hole now, and its really toxic, inc. threats to kill our PM
posted by unearthed at 8:22 PM on February 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
A major issue (intentional I'd say) is that it weakens all valid protest as well as surfacing absolute tin foil hat stuff. I know three people lost down this rabbit hole now, and its really toxic, inc. threats to kill our PM
posted by unearthed at 8:22 PM on February 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
DHS warns police of US trucker protests around Super Bowl, State of Union; Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 02/09/22:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is warning law enforcement partners of planned demonstrations among truck drivers to protest vaccine mandates that could disrupt both the Super Bowl and President Biden’s first State of the Union address.posted by cenoxo at 6:19 PM on February 10, 2022
The memo indicates that U.S.-based truck drivers may stage protests in support of a similar movement in Canada, which has mandated COVID-19 vaccines for truck drivers that cross the border.
The DHS “has received reports of truck drivers potentially planning to block roads in major metropolitan cities in the United States in protest of, among other things, vaccine mandates. The convoy will potentially begin in California early as mid-February, potentially impacting the Super Bowl scheduled for 13 February and the State of the Union address scheduled for 1 March,” according to a memo obtained by The Hill….
Paris and Brussels to ban ‘Freedom Convoy’ inspired by Canadian protest, Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, February 10, 2022:
BRUSSELS — Authorities in Paris and Brussels said Thursday that they will try to stop convoys from entering both cities, potentially thwarting plans for staging in Europe the type of demonstration that has paralyzed Ottawa and closed Canada’s busiest border crossing into the United States.posted by cenoxo at 12:16 AM on February 11, 2022
Paris police said in a statement that convoys en route to the French capital from across the country will not be able to enter the city for planned rallies this weekend “because of a risk to public order.” Penalties for blocking public roads include prison time, fines and driving bans, the statement noted.
Not long afterward, the mayor of Brussels, where several groups planned to converge on Feb. 14, announced that a procession modeled on Canada’s “Freedom Convoy” would not be allowed in. Vehicles arriving to protest will be “diverted,” the mayor said.
…
A number of convoys set out from locations around France on Wednesday bound for Paris, according to the French convoy Facebook group and local news reports….
Ontario declares state of emergency as protesters reportedly open a lane of traffic to the U.S. – Honda joins Toyota, GM, Ford, Stellantis in production cuts stemming from bridge blockade, Automotive News, February 10, 2022:
posted by cenoxo at 9:03 AM on February 11, 2022 [4 favorites]
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday he is declaring a state of emergency in response to ongoing blockades in Ottawa and Windsor as protesters reportedly began to allow traffic to cross on the bridge from Canada into the U.S.Money – especially the possibility of losing a lot of it – talks loudest.
Ford said he will use legal measures to enact orders making it "crystal clear" that it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure. Ford said that includes protecting international border crossings, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways. Fines for non-compliance will be up to $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment, Ford said.
…
Meanwhile, protestors blockading the busiest land border crossing between Canada and the U.S. may soon be removed by force, as growing ranks of Ontario Provincial Police arrive in Windsor and Michigan’s governor offers to provide heavy equipment to assist with the removal of vehicles.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the city, backed by auto industry groups, is seeking an injunction that will give police the authority to clear protestors that have halted truck traffic at the Ambassador Bridge since Monday, resulting slowdowns at auto assembly plants in both Ontario and Michigan.
The main applicants for the injunction are the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, along with the City of Windsor and the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce "as supportive interveners."
“The individuals on-site are trespassing on municipal property and if need be, will be removed to allow for the safe and efficient movement of goods across the border,” Dilkens said at a press conference Thursday.
posted by cenoxo at 9:03 AM on February 11, 2022 [4 favorites]
Paris and Brussels to ban ‘Freedom Convoy’ inspired by Canadian protest
One positive outcome that we're seeing from the events in Ottawa is that authorities elsewhere are learning from it and being more proactive about shutting down similar occupations in their own jurisdictions before they happen. I mean, I'm sure that's no comfort to the people of Ottawa, but it is a good thing.
posted by orange swan at 12:21 PM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
One positive outcome that we're seeing from the events in Ottawa is that authorities elsewhere are learning from it and being more proactive about shutting down similar occupations in their own jurisdictions before they happen. I mean, I'm sure that's no comfort to the people of Ottawa, but it is a good thing.
posted by orange swan at 12:21 PM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Bridge blockade at U.S.-Canada border could end after court grants injunction – The order will take effect at 7 p.m. ET Friday, giving protesters near the Ambassador Bridge the opportunity and time to clear the area., Automotive News, David Kennedy, February 11, 2022.
posted by cenoxo at 5:41 PM on February 11, 2022
posted by cenoxo at 5:41 PM on February 11, 2022
Ontario Premier declares state of emergency over trucker 'siege' (Full statement – YouTube, Feb 11, 2022).
posted by cenoxo at 6:28 PM on February 11, 2022
posted by cenoxo at 6:28 PM on February 11, 2022
Twitter > #FreedomConvoy2022 > BREAKING: Ontario Police have begun handing out notices on Ambassador Bridge. Effective midnight tonight [photo of notice].
posted by cenoxo at 7:39 PM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by cenoxo at 7:39 PM on February 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
I would imagine that could say "blocking [stuff] is still illegal."
Losing licenses permanently, we'll see if they take that exit to the Road to Damascus.
posted by rhizome at 7:48 PM on February 11, 2022
Losing licenses permanently, we'll see if they take that exit to the Road to Damascus.
posted by rhizome at 7:48 PM on February 11, 2022
Windsor Police statement on Friday evening (sidebar), Daily Mail, February 11, 2022:
'The Windsor Police Service wants to make demonstrators clearly aware that it is a criminal offence to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property. The offence itself is known as mischief to property.posted by cenoxo at 8:50 PM on February 11, 2022
The unlawful act of blocking streets at and near the Ambassador Bridge is resulting in people being denied the lawful use, enjoyment and operation of their property and causing businesses to close down.
We are providing notice that anyone blocking streets or assisting others in the blocking of streets may be committing a criminal offence and must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you may face charges. You could be arrested if you are a party to the offence or assisting others in the direct or indirect commission of this offence.
Vehicles or other property related to an offence may be seized. Once a vehicle is seized, it may be detained and, following a conviction, possibly forfeited.
Charges and/or convictions related to the unlawful activity associated with the demonstration may lead to denial in crossing the USA border.'
Protesters dig in at Ambassador Bridge blockade after injunction deadline passes, Mark Gollom, CBC News, Feb 12, 2022 4:25 AM ET.
posted by cenoxo at 4:56 AM on February 12, 2022
posted by cenoxo at 4:56 AM on February 12, 2022
"Bring it," Mayville said. "Do you think I care? Do you think I care about a fine? I'm going to pay a fine? No. You think I care about their mandates? No. This needs to end.Someone is about to experience the consequences of their actions, possibly for the first time, and I bet most aren't going to like it.
posted by Mitheral at 5:39 AM on February 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
Also:
posted by Mitheral at 5:42 AM on February 12, 2022
But he points to all the businesses that have suffered from mandates, which, when lifted, he suggests, would be an economic benefit to all.They really don't care if the elderly and immunocompromised and accident victims are mowed down by the thousands as long as they have the knowledge that some businessman somewhere is able to pocket another dollar.
posted by Mitheral at 5:42 AM on February 12, 2022
Side note: some related data on that economic argument, as well as the “freedom” argument: SARS-CoV-2 elimination, not mitigation, creates best outcomes for health, the economy, and civil liberties (Lancet, June 2021)
posted by eviemath at 6:32 AM on February 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by eviemath at 6:32 AM on February 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Another poll, this time from Ipsos. Wording of the questions is quite different from the Abacus poll posted above: The are asking for agreement with the statement that you "may not agree with everything the people who have taken part in the truck protests in Ottawa have said, but their frustration is legitimate and worthy of our sympathy."
Most interesting result: Only 37% of people 55+ agreed with the statement, but 61% of 18-34-year-olds did.
posted by clawsoon at 10:50 AM on February 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Most interesting result: Only 37% of people 55+ agreed with the statement, but 61% of 18-34-year-olds did.
posted by clawsoon at 10:50 AM on February 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Police move in on Ambassador Bridge blockade after injunction deadline passes – Some protesters left immediately, but small group remains at Windsor, Ont., crossing., Mark Gollom, CBC News, Posted: Feb 12, 2022 4:25 AM ET | Last Updated: 1 hour ago:
Police are breaking up a days-long protest at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., where vehicles have been blocking traffic on the crucial border crossing into the United States.posted by cenoxo at 11:12 AM on February 12, 2022
But four hours after Windsor police tweeted that they were moving in, some protesters still appear reluctant to leave. "We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully and peacefully," Windsor police said as officers started to move in with other law enforcement at about 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. They also advised people to stay away from the area.
While some protesters left immediately, a small group remained as of early afternoon. Late Saturday morning, police formed a line and were steadily pushing back the demonstrators, some of whom were shouting "shame," "freedom" and "you're on the wrong side."
And there are reports that more people are arriving….
This just now, from a staff photographer for the Windsor Star:
A car is towed behind the police line, just south of College on Huron Line.
This is approximately where the push to clear the #AmbassadorBridgeBlockade stalled. In the meantime, more protesters have flooded into the area in what can be described as a festive atmosphere.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:20 AM on February 12, 2022
A car is towed behind the police line, just south of College on Huron Line.
This is approximately where the push to clear the #AmbassadorBridgeBlockade stalled. In the meantime, more protesters have flooded into the area in what can be described as a festive atmosphere.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:20 AM on February 12, 2022
Anyone interested in the differential of the response to the Ambassador Bridge or Coutts blockades, or the occupation in Ottawa relative to Canadian state responses past, I can heartily recommend Alanis Obamsawin's
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance and Rocks at Whiskey Trench.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:43 AM on February 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance and Rocks at Whiskey Trench.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:43 AM on February 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Also: Incident at Restigouche.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:45 AM on February 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:45 AM on February 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Shout-out to Kingston right now as counter-protestors successfully prevented supporters of the Flu Trux Klan from anchoring themselves downtown. I love ya, #ygk.
posted by Kitteh at 1:29 PM on February 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 1:29 PM on February 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
Lack of enforcement in Ottawa 'inexplicable': Blair – Invocation of Emergencies Act discussed but treated with 'appropriate caution', Christian Paas-Lang & Catharine Tunney, CBC News, Feb 13, 2022:
See also: Police break up remaining protest as authorities work to reopen Ambassador Bridge – Mayor of Windsor, Ont., hopes bridge will reopen Sunday or Monday morning, Mark Gollom & Samantha Craggs, CBC News, Feb 13, 2022 8:19 AM ET.
posted by cenoxo at 2:54 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The federal government has discussed invoking special emergency powers to deal with ongoing protests in Ottawa, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says, calling a lack of enforcement in the nation's capital "inexplicable."More details in the article.
The government's Incident Response Group and cabinet have had "daily" discussions about potential use of the Emergencies Act, Blair said in an interview on Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to chair a meeting of the group on Sunday. Blair described the attitude around use of the law, which has never been implemented before, as "appropriate caution" rather than "reticence."
The law empowers Ottawa to do just about anything it thinks is necessary to cope with a crisis. The legislation, which replaced the War Measures Act, defines a national emergency as a temporary "urgent and critical situation" that "seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians and is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province to deal with it."
While Blair emphasized it was important to make sure that "the appropriate authorities that are with the provinces are fully utilized," he said the federal government was "prepared to do everything necessary." He also did not rule out deployment of the military in some way to help end the occupation….
See also: Police break up remaining protest as authorities work to reopen Ambassador Bridge – Mayor of Windsor, Ont., hopes bridge will reopen Sunday or Monday morning, Mark Gollom & Samantha Craggs, CBC News, Feb 13, 2022 8:19 AM ET.
posted by cenoxo at 2:54 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Forget The Freedom Convoy: More People Need To Know About The On-To-Ottawa Trek
“Striking workers during the Great Depression were met with violence, death and arrests”
posted by eviemath at 6:52 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
“Striking workers during the Great Depression were met with violence, death and arrests”
posted by eviemath at 6:52 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
So, about GiveSendGo...
Apparently there's been a new oopsie-diddle in the form of a new donor information hack:
To clarify, this is not the same issue that was reported by TechCrunch last week. Or the follow-up piece I did on the issue not being fixed, which saw pics of IDs and other docs still exposed.
This hack & leak of alleged donor names, emails, IP addresses, etc is new.
Also:
The file lists about $3.6M in donations from U.S. contributors, vs. about $4.3M from Canadian contributors. Plus some much smaller amounts from other countries.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:21 PM on February 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Apparently there's been a new oopsie-diddle in the form of a new donor information hack:
To clarify, this is not the same issue that was reported by TechCrunch last week. Or the follow-up piece I did on the issue not being fixed, which saw pics of IDs and other docs still exposed.
This hack & leak of alleged donor names, emails, IP addresses, etc is new.
Also:
The file lists about $3.6M in donations from U.S. contributors, vs. about $4.3M from Canadian contributors. Plus some much smaller amounts from other countries.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:21 PM on February 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
There's further discussion of the hack in the new thread:
https://www.metafilter.com/194285/The-Siege-of-Ottawa-Counterprotest-Today
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:32 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
https://www.metafilter.com/194285/The-Siege-of-Ottawa-Counterprotest-Today
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:32 AM on February 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by azpenguin at 1:05 PM on January 28, 2022 [116 favorites]