As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s police forces moved in to break up the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa, Ontario, the Canadian leader’s actions have sent shockwaves around the world.
On Friday evening, local and federal authorities in Ottawa began efforts to end the protests against PM Trudeau’s COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.
Authorities moved in with force to break up the ongoing Freedom Convoy, using tear-gas and horses to violently force the peaceful protesters into surrendering.
In doing so, authorities were seen running over demonstartors with horses, even appearing to trample one elderly woman using a walker.
Large numbers of other people were tear-gassed by Trudeau’s police forces.
Police began making arrests and towing vehicles on Friday before later turning violent after the crowds stood their ground.
Several hours into the sweep, police have arrested at least 70 protesters and removed over 20 vehicles, according to the Ottawa Police Department.
Later in the afternoon, police broke out heavy crowd control tactics such as horses, clubs, and tear gas to push the protesters back.
Several of those instances were caught on camera.
Around the world, individuals reacted with disgust to the “tyranny” on display in the Western nation.
“Remember this image,” internet commentator Ian Miles Cheong tweeted, reportedly showing a picture of two protesters, one next to a walking device, knocked to the ground by law enforcement’s horses.
“Remember what Trudeau did to Canada.”
Remember this image. Remember what Trudeau did to Canada. pic.twitter.com/Z5b3kfWK1y
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 18, 2022
Video obtained by Cheong appeared to confirm that event. “Trudeau is stamping out freedom. One trampled protester at a time,” he added. “Remember Ottawa.”
https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1494826510770790402
Ottawa authorities denied that they trampled anybody, but rather that a horse was spooked by a bicycle.
“We hear your concern for people on the ground after the horses dispersed a crowd,” Ottawa police tweeted.
“Anyone who fell got up and walked away.
“We’re unaware of any injuries.
“A bicycle was thrown at the horse further down the line and caused the horse to trip.
“The horse was uninjured.”
As Rebel News’ Ezra Levant pointed out, there doesn’t seem to be any video backing that up, and the police likely confused — or willfully lied about, as Levant says — the elderly woman’s walking device.
“You’re liars,” Levant responded.
“You said someone threw a bike at a horse. That’s a lie.
“It wasn’t a bike, your horse stomped on a woman with a mobility scooter.
“You didn’t disperse a crowd. You charged a group of unarmed civilians.
“You belong in prison. You dirty, corrupt Trudeau thugs,” he added.
You're liars. You said someone threw a bike at a horse. That's a lie. It wasn't a bike, your horse stomped on a woman with a mobility scooter.
You didn't disperse a crowd. You charged a group of unarmed civilians.
You belong in prison. You dirty, corrupt Trudeau thugs. https://t.co/OCg7GvG1aF
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) February 19, 2022
Cheong also claimed the police were not telling the truth about the event and had even more evidence to back up his assertions:
Ottawa Police lied. This was the elderly woman trampled by the horses. pic.twitter.com/FGmPoSj9F9
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 19, 2022
In response to the mayhem, there were dozens, if not hundreds, of calls for Trudeau to resign.
“Trudeau must resign,” Human Events and TPUSA personality Jack Posobiec tweeted, amassing tens of thousands of likes and hundreds of retweets:
Trudeau must resign
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 19, 2022
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson also predicted that Trudeau will resign.
“What happened today in Canada was worse than Hong Kong or Ukraine,” Johnson claimed.
“A Western, English-speaking nation turning weapons of war peaceful protesters.
“Trampling their skulls. Today The Regime broke.
“They will not survive this. Canada will never be the same.
“Justin Trudeau will resign.”
What happened today in Canada was worse than Hong Kong or Ukraine.
A Western, English-speaking nation turning weapons of war peaceful protesters. Trampling their skulls.
Today The Regime broke.
They will not survive this.
Canada will never be the same.
Justin Trudeau will resign.— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 19, 2022
Across the globe in India, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, National Secretary for the Bharatiya Janata Party Youth, the world’s largest youth political organization, also expressed his horror at the images.
“I am not able to eat anything from last 24 hours after watching this video. how can @JustinTrudeauattack his own country people. Justin Converted beautiful Canada into Banana Republic #TrudeauDictatorshipMustGo,” he tweeted on Saturday.
I am not able to eat anything from last 24 hours after watching this video. how can @JustinTrudeau attack his own country people. Justin Converted beautiful Canada into Banana Republic. #TrudeauDictatorshipMustGo pic.twitter.com/WWwgMN4OsV
— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) February 19, 2022