'We cannot let this go unchallenged': 'Unwelcome Party' plans to send message to Rolling Thunder Ottawa event
Ottawa residents are planning an “unwelcome party” Friday to send a message to the "Rolling Thunder Ottawa" motorcycle convoy.
“We cannot let this go unchallenged,” says Brian Latour, one of the organizers of the rally.
Community Solidarity Ottawa (CSO), a coalition of community organizations, is organizing the event. The group started during the Freedom Convoy earlier this year.
The “unwelcome party” is planned for 5 p.m. at Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill. It will include a rally and march.
Latour says he is disappointed Centretown residents are having to face another convoy.
"I am feeling very nervous, and I know there are people that have it more than me," Latour said.
CSO says they wanted to do something to send a message to the Rolling Thunder biker rally that they are not welcome in Ottawa. The event also aims to publicly demonstrate how much of a disruption the convoys have had on Centretown residents.
Speaking to media Thursday, Latour raised concerned about the biker convoy's connection to far-right figure Chris 'Sky' Saccoccia. The “Rolling Thunder” website’s schedule says on Saturday there will be a rally and march at Parliament Hill with “special guest speaker Chris Sky.” He is the only person named on the itinerary. Organizers of Rolling Thunder have denied a connection to Sky.
Latour says, “There is also the broader threat that these convoys movements entail. These are very far-right movements with anti-democratic, conspiracy theory views. We are concerned about these impacts, disruptions on our community.”
Latour says the unwelcome party is being held right before the convoy is expected to arrive in the capital.
"I hope it sends the message that hate, and far-right politics aren’t tolerated in our communities, I hope it sends the message that Ottawa isn’t going to stand idly by and be ground zero," Latour said.
Resident Cathy Varrette says she plans on attending the “unwelcome party” to support her community and stand up against hate.
“We need to make our community a hate-free zone," Varrette said.
"It is terrifying for it come, it is terrifying for it to come again, and we need to stop this. I am for the right to protest, but this is not protest- this is terrorism, we are afraid."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW What Canada is doing about the toxic forever chemicals in drinking water
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Arrest made, manslaughter charge pending in 2022 death of Calgary toddler
Calgary police have arrested a man and a charge is pending in connection with the death of a toddler in 2022.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson Airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Here's why experts don't think cloud seeding played a role in Dubai's downpour
Scientists say it's highly unlikely cloud seeding is responsible for the heavy rains that have caused flooding in the United Arab Emirates this month, and that climate change is the more likely culprit.