Ottawa prepares for the arrival of a massive motorcycle rally this weekend, raising fears among residents and city councilors that the core of the city center could be re-exposed to the harassment and noise that rocked the capital during the protest. earlier this year. Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell says his force is working with the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and intelligence services to respond to a plan for more than 500 motorcyclists to downtown for a rally. called Rolling Thunder. Ottawa residents harshly criticized local police for their seemingly slow, unhindered approach to escort demonstrations in February that sparked the resignation of Police Chief Peter Sloley. The organizers of the Rolling Thunder were not clear about the purpose of the rally, except for the intention to “celebrate our freedom peacefully.” Speaking to Ottawa City Council on Wednesday, Mayor Bell said that while police have “absolutely no capacity” to prevent motorcyclists from coming to Ottawa, officers backed by tugs and natural obstacles will be in place during what called a planned “riot.” “Saturday afternoon. “I want to be clear with both the organizers and the participants: You will be held accountable for your actions before, during and after the events,” said Chief Bell. “Threatening or intimidating behaviors will be dealt with with all appropriate enforcement measures. Investigative teams, including the Hate Crime Unit, are in operation, focusing on gathering evidence and prosecuting where needed. “Displaying hate symbols, such as swastikas, will lead to accusations.” In an online statement Monday, Rolling Thunder organizer and veteran Neil Sheard encouraged all participants to follow the rules. City councilors said residents and businesses in the center were still injured in the month-long protests by truckers who took over Parliament and the surrounding area, harassing residents, shouting deafening horns and polluting the air with fumes. headache. “People are nervous, but they are also bored, and the people I hear from are not going to invade their neighborhoods from white supremacist, racist, extremist groups,” said Catherine McKenney, a city center councilor. chamber, he said at Wednesday’s council meeting. Chief Bell said those concerns alerted police to the plan for the weekend, which includes a “blockade zone” around Parliament Hill. Vehicles participating in the demonstrations will be barred from entering the area, reinforced by police forces and fencing. Part of the exclusion zone is the National War Memorial, which rally organizers have vowed to reclaim after police cordoned off the monument during a escort of truckers. Mr Sheard said in a video posted on YouTube that the veterans wanted to go back to the Cenotaph to lay a wreath after it was “desecrated”. The noise was a major concern during the escort demonstrations, when truckers honked at all hours of the day despite orders to silence them. A.D. McKinney urged police to inspect every motorcycle coming into the city center and to ban those with noise-canceling mufflers. Public Safety Minister Marco Medicino said Wednesday that the winter protests remain fresh in the minds of many Ottawa residents and “we certainly do not want a repeat of the illegal occupation.” When truckers refused to leave the city center earlier this year, Ottawa police were quickly shocked and called for additional support. In one of the largest law enforcement operations in Canadian history, the RCMP, OPP and local police from across the country descended on the capital to clear the streets of the city center. Ottawa police have been in contact with the RCMP and OPP and both forces will assist in the events of the weekend. The Ottawa Police Service Council met Wednesday afternoon to approve up to 200 RCMP officers to assist local police this weekend. The board also approved the appointment of another 631 Mounties if more support is needed. Former Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau, now a public security adviser, said local police were sharing their plans with the public, the Ottawa City Council and the Ottawa Police Department, and were clear about their expectations for the protesters. . He said he was concerned about whether the service had the best information about the intent of this group or groups, adding that this was very difficult. The police service should use what it can in terms of social media, talking to the organizers and other methods of gathering information to get the best possible information, said Mr. Bordello. He also said officers should be able to adapt quickly to different situations as they evolve. It’s not clear how much this weekend’s rally could cost Ottawa taxpayers, but the city’s director general of emergency and security services said the daily rate would be similar to a truck escort response. The city says federal partners have announced that all escort costs will be reimbursed at about $ 35 million. The Morning and Afternoon Newsletters are compiled by Globe editors, giving you a brief overview of the day’s most important headlines. Register today.
