Toronto Police promise to keep public safe at Freedom convoy rally but people don't believe it
In the wake of rumours of a possible Freedom Convoy heading to Toronto, police issued a statement saying they plan to keep the public safe but not everyone is convinced.
Word of a possible trucker convoy heading to Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 5 came today. There is no confirmation of who or how many people are actually planning to take part but social media posts indicate the truckers will "cruise to Queen's Park by 12 p.m."
Late Wednesday, Toronto Police Service issued a statement about the possible protest.
"We are aware of a demonstration planned for Saturday, February 5, 2022, in the downtown core," a Tweet from the police reads. "The Service will have a policing operation in place to ensure public safety and keep emergency access routes to hospitals clear."
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) February 2, 2022
But after reports of people demanding food from homeless shelters, harassing shelter staff and residents in Ottawa as police posed for photos with protesters, people in Toronto aren’t convinced order will prevail on Saturday.
Now they’re going to let them occupy and terrorize Toronto residents. Not surprised. ‘Hey, look what happened in Ottawa..can’t wait til it happens in TO.. let’s welcome them! Yay’ 👮♀️ Why not just block the roads so they can’t get downtown. Block the hwy exits so they roll past us
— 😷 (@SeptemberSafire) February 2, 2022
"Don't be like @OttawaPolice, actually arrest these people," one person wrote.
Thanks for the tweet.
— Richard Sharp (@tyronemund) February 2, 2022
Will you be handing out food and be taking pictures with the protestors like your brothers in Ottawa did?
"Will we see an Ottawa repeat?" another person wrote.
Others compared the police response to encampments and wondered how the response would differ.
and will the Toronto Police be as vigilant and ruthless with the truckers as what they were in the homeless encampments? Didn't think so. The homeless were weak from hunger and defenseless. The truckers are probably stronger and armed.
— #HateHasNoPlaceHere (@LLynneIrwin) February 2, 2022
Some people hoped Toronto would block streets.
Shut down all access routes to downtown prior. This will be disastrous if not. You will wish you had. By Monday they will still be there, then what? They have already protested now time to go home and back to work.
— kc (@kittyca64935054) February 2, 2022
At this point, it is unclear what will happen on Saturday but with a multi-day winter storm in Toronto and now possibly loud, horn honking protesters, it might be a tough week in the city.
Briana-Lynn Brieiro
