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
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler arrested at PGA Championship for traffic violation
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested Friday morning on his way to the PGA Championship, with stunning images showing him handcuffed as he was taken to jail for not following police orders during a pedestrian fatality investigation.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Four 1970s homicides linked to serial killer, Alberta Mounties to reveal Friday
A dead serial sexual offender and killer has been linked to four homicides in the 1970s in Alberta, RCMP say.
Ontario sees first measles death in more than a decade after young child dies
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
'Another pair of eyes watching over me:' How a B.C. woman's guide dog saved her from drowning
A B.C. woman says her guide dog pulled her from a lake moments before she had a seizure, saving her life.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.