As the first day of February dawns, there’s a Mexican standoff along the Canadian border. Mounties have declared the Freedom Convoy blockade at the Coutts border crossing location an “illegal assembly.” Truckers are dug in, vowing not to move another inch voluntarily. The Canadian version of the anti-mandate protest enters it’s fourth day while the American version gathers steam to add support.
Blockade escalates tension
Alberta’s branch of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have officially declared the Coutts border crossing protest “no longer lawful.” Their spokesperson noted “protesters are not complying.”
Tactical gear is already on the scene to defend the tow trucks on Tuesday. The blockade developed over the weekend. News reports note that a “convoy of commercial trucks, vehicles and camper vans has blocked the highway at the Alberta border crossing into Montana since Saturday to protest COVID-19 restrictions.”
A lane opening up for the locals, the border will remain blocked.
Any truckers who want to leave now have a chance.
More at https://t.co/NxAr5V5Iko pic.twitter.com/6i4TCzfml0
— K2 (@kiansimone44) January 31, 2022
On Monday night, the Mounties issued a statement saying “they thought there was a path to resolve the matter, but protesters are choosing not to comply.” The blockade is something which cannot be ignored by authorities so they declared it unlawful.
That provides the authority to “make arrests and tow away vehicles.” Defiant truckers say “bring it on.” They have no plans to leave.
A local was watching twitter for updates in her pajamas, shocked to see tactical units outside her house in Coutts Alberta.
She came to support the hundreds of truckers here, with more on the way being blocked by checkpoints outside town.
More at https://t.co/NxAr5V5Iko pic.twitter.com/LkNWAlscJt
— K2 (@kiansimone44) January 31, 2022
Nervous reporters along the border are happy to report that “they have no plans to leave.” The blockade will stay in place as long as they can support it.
Meanwhile, Coutts Mayor Jim Willett “wants the protesters gone, as mail can’t be delivered and some kids haven’t been able to go to school because their bus can’t get into the community.”
Surrounded and forced to make a difficult decision. Motion has passed, they are staying.
Stay tuned.
More at https://t.co/NxAr5V5Iko pic.twitter.com/kIyM8lGmTA
— K2 (@kiansimone44) January 31, 2022
The siege begins
Rebel News has reporters embedded with truckers at the scene of the blockade. Kian Simone put out an update at 4:40 p.m. local time on Monday, noting that “RCMP negotiators have met with a group of around 50 truckers who are blocking the border.”
Mounties surrounded the truckers and cut them off. “The RCMP has blocked all roads into the border town, denying supporters access to food and water.”
UPDATE: truckers speak after decision to stand their ground.
More at https://t.co/NxAr5V5Iko pic.twitter.com/Ib1tpxEnT6
— K2 (@kiansimone44) January 31, 2022
After three days of a full blockade, the protesters relented enough to open a single lane “to let gridlocked truckers, who are not part of the protest, leave.”
They also promised to let through locals who need to get past. “This decision was made in hopes the police would allow food and water past the checkpoints.”
"DON'T OPEN THE BORDER" says an American trucker who was gridlocked for 3 days away from his family and his work.
Even those inconvenienced are understanding and in support.
Don't believe what the media is saying, we are HERE on the ground.
Help us at https://t.co/NxAr5V5Iko pic.twitter.com/woWOOO6k2B
— K2 (@kiansimone44) January 31, 2022
As they watched the tactical vehicles and tow trucks arrive, the truckers only grew more persistent. Willing to face potential fines starting at $10,000 to maintain the blockade.
Meanwhile, “American truckers at the border have offered support.” As one American trucker tweets, “DON’T OPEN THE BORDER.”