While the trucks are gone, foot protestors are continuing to gather across the U.S-Canada border disregarding the severe penalties.
The two-week-long U.S.-Canada trucker protest, Freedom Convoy, officially ended Sunday following a court order. The protest was organized on Ambassador Bridge—a busy link that carries 25% of all trade between North America and Canada, after Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister passed a vaccine mandate. The government required unvaccinated Canadian truckers to self-quarantine after crossing the Canadian border.
Amidst the ongoing supply chain crisis, a 14-day long quarantine will leave unvaccinated and partially vaccinated truckers unemployed, adding to Canada’s inflation. Though 80% of eligible adults have been vaccinated in Canada, civilians considered the mandate a government overreach, resulting in protests fueled by the conservative parties.
Pandemic mandates in other countries have also attracted similar protests and resistance from civilians:
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Paris police tear-gassed protesters at the Champs Elysees Avenue this Saturday. 500 vehicles were prevented from entering the city for a protest.
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New Zealand used sprinklers and Barry Manilow songs on protestors barricading the Parliament since Tuesday
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In Australia, people rallied from the capital to the Parliament building in protest Saturday morning
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Europe and Spain witnessed similar protests back in December and January
The U.S. geared up for an unannounced protest on Super Bowl Sunday, but the event went unharmed. Canada has not yet relaxed the pandemic mandates. U.S.-Canada border officials are aiming to keep the border open in order to balance the supply chain crisis.
