Canadian officials reopened a major U.S.-Canada border crossing on Sunday night that’s been blockaded by protesters for six days, but warned non-essential travel “is not advised.”
Yes, but: While normal border processing has resumed on Ambassador Bridge, hundreds of demonstrators in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, continued to rally around Parliament Hill — though officials said “back-channel negotiations” had begun with protest leaders to remove the convoy of trucks and other vehicles from residential areas, per the New York Times.
The big picture: Protests began last month in Ottawa against a U.S. COVID-19 vaccine requirement for cross-border truck drivers, but they have since expanded into wider movement protesting the country’s government and other issues.
What’s happening: Sgt. Steve Betteridge, of Ontario’s Windsor Police, told reporters ahead of the bridge reopening that officers had arrested some 12 people Sunday and moved to dispel the remains of the demonstration — which began as a
- “Of those 12 arrests, there was no violence involved, no violence from the protesters and the officers did not have to use force,” Betteridge said.
- Windsor Police said in a statement Sunday that “several” people had been arrested on charges of “mischief” and a number of vehicles seized.
Worth noting: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to their Canadian counterparts Sunday morning about the progress made to ease the blockade, White House Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall said in a statement.
- “The updates they received indicate that most protesters have been cleared from the Ambassador Bridge, barriers are being removed, and the corridor is being secured,” Sherwood-Randall said.
Go deeper: Canadian judge grants order allowing removal of protesters blocking border bridge
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.
Canadian officials reopened a major U.S.-Canada border crossing on Sunday night that’s been blockaded by protesters for six days, but warned non-essential travel “is not advised.”Yes, but: While normal border processing has resumed on Ambassador Bridge, hundreds of demonstrators in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, continued to rally around Parliament Hill — though officials said “back-channel negotiations” had begun with protest leaders to remove the convoy of trucks and other vehicles from residential areas, per the New York Times. The big picture: Protests began last month in Ottawa against a U.S. COVID-19 vaccine requirement for cross-border truck drivers, but they have since expanded into wider movement protesting the country’s government and other issues.What’s happening: Sgt. Steve Betteridge, of Ontario’s Windsor Police, told reporters ahead of the bridge reopening that officers had arrested some 12 people Sunday and moved to dispel the remains of the demonstration — which began as a “Of those 12 arrests, there was no violence involved, no violence from the protesters and the officers did not have to use force,” Betteridge said.Windsor Police said in a statement Sunday that “several” people had been arrested on charges of “mischief” and a number of vehicles seized. Worth noting: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to their Canadian counterparts Sunday morning about the progress made to ease the blockade, White House Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall said in a statement.”The updates they received indicate that most protesters have been cleared from the Ambassador Bridge, barriers are being removed, and the corridor is being secured,” Sherwood-Randall said.Go deeper: Canadian judge grants order allowing removal of protesters blocking border bridgeEditor’s note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.