Canada Day freedom rallies continue despite police pushback

Freedom protestors flocked to Ottawa for Canada Day rallies despite elaborate efforts by police and the City of Ottawa to thwart the patriotic gathering. Attempts to stifle the planned Canada Day freedom rallies included the fencing off of the Supreme Court where one event was planned, banning idling and "vehicle based demonstrations", setting up checkpoints at the entrance to Parliament Hill, and increasing fines for infractions including "unusual noise."

Events kicked off on Thursday, when veteran James Topp, who marched across Canada in protest of COVID mandates, arrived at the National War Memorial. Topp has garnered national attention for his vocal opposition to vaccine mandates.

Topp didn't arrive alone. Estimates of the number of people gathered range from hundreds to thousands at the memorial, many of whom had spent the day marching with him for the final leg. They cheered and called him a hero when he arrived.

Not everyone was happy about Topp's arrival, however. Leftist protestors gathered nearby to squeeze squeaky toys and wave pride flags in the faces of anyone who walked past them. They held signs that read, among other things, "STOP Fascism" and "Convoy Punks F*ck Off."

Shortly after Topp's arrival, he called for a moment of silence, which was interrupted by leftist protestors shouting what sounded like "Bullsh*t." Shouts of "Freedom" were thrown back at them before the moment of silence resumed.

Topp was scheduled to appear at a picnic at Strathcona Park for Canada Day itself—an event originally planned to occur outside the Supreme Court of Canada— but the event, organized by Police On Guard For Thee, was cancelled citing "a recent incident in Ottawa."

PPC leader Maxime Bernier followed through with his commitment to speak, with the event becoming an impromptu PPC-supporter picnic.

As the day rolled on, the crowd of freedom supporters then gathered at Parliament Hill in preparation for their march through downtown Ottawa.

The march made its way around the downtown core, with participants chanting "Freedom," "Canada," and various other slogans. There were also calls to free Tamara Lich, the Freedom Convoy co-organizer who was re-arrested last week.

Discontent with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also made known by protestors. Trudeau recently faced backlash for his Canada Day statement where he claimed "historic wrongs" can make Canada Day celebrations tough for some.

Several onlookers from the streets expressed their distaste for the freedom marchers, with many waving their middle fingers and others throwing water balloons. At one point, someone in the march advised everyone to keep their eyes on windows.

The march concluded at the National War Memorial, where the crowd sang O Canada.

Speeches soon followed at Parliament Hill. A permit was held to set up the soundsystem on the grounds of Parliament Hill, but difficulties arose with getting the freedom rally attendees onto the grounds. Those in charge of the speeches tried moving the sound-system onto the sidewalk along Wellington Street, but police were quick to move in.

Reminiscent of the novel protest approaches that occurred during February's Freedom Convoy, the event headliners loaded the sound-system onto a wagon and began wheeling it around behind them.

A compromise was quickly reached, and the sound system was allowed to be set up on the Parliament Hill side of the fence, with attendees allowed to gather on the sidewalk.

Most official Canada Day festivities including the fireworks—which were cancelled the previous two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic—were moved outside of the downtown core to LeBreton Flats. Limited events still occurred on Parliament Hill, such as the arrival of a parachute team.