Ottawa man confronts downtown 'bullies and goons'
An Ottawa resident who stepped in front of a truck in the heart of the downtown ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests said he did so because he wanted to stand up to people he called “bullies and goons.”
John Hennessy, a ByWard Market resident, was walking along Sussex Drive when he saw the truck, which had turned around, pulling back into a spot on the street.
As the driver tried to pull forward, Hennessy stepped in front of it.
“I’m pretty frustrated. I’ve lived this for 12 days,” he told CTV News Ottawa while standing in front of the truck as protesters shouted him down with chants of ‘Freedom.’
“Nobody’s made a statement to these guys here,” he added.
The encounter is an example of the rising tension between local residents and protesters who have been encamping on downtown streets for more than two weeks.
As Hennessy stood in front of the truck, protesters formed a semicircle around him and continued to shout taunts his way.
After about 15 minutes, police arrived to pull him out, the truck pulled up to its intended spot and all the protesters cheered.
“They’re bullies and goons that are supporting all this. I’ve had enough,” he afterwards. “Nobody’s been acting in our interests.”
Rideau and Sussex has become a hot spot for the ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters, with large crowds gathering there into the early morning hours last weekend.
It has been quieter this week, but a large crowd began gathering there again Friday morning. Bylaw officers issued at least one $1,500 ticket to one man who was playing music loudly through a large speaker.
Ottawa’s police chief warned demonstrators planning to come for a third weekend to stay away, but authorities are expecting a large influx of people downtown.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
'I won't stop,' Celine Dion says in trailer for upcoming doc about her health woes
Celine Dion's fans are getting a first glimpse of the superstar's struggle with a rare neurological disorder in an emotional trailer for an upcoming documentary about her career and life.
Hidden risks: Why ultra-processed food may be hurting our brains
Ultra-processed foods are quick, convenient and hard to avoid, but there is growing evidence that eating these products can have an impact on brain health, leading to cognitive decline and stroke.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
Tim Meadows pledges not to shave until the Oilers win the cup, who are the team's other famous fans?
An unlikely celebrity emerged from social media to cheer on the Edmonton Oilers as they face the Dallas Stars tonight in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.