The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) has voiced concern about a possible return of the “Freedom Convoy” to Winnipeg this weekend.
In recent months, a trans-Canada ‘“Freedom Convoy” protest similar to the one that took place in Ottawa and other cities last winter was scheduled to visit Winnipeg Feb. 17 to 20, after plans to protest in Ottawa changed.
The Freedom Convoy protesters have been making headlines lately for their ongoing protests across Canada. They have been demanding justice for the truckers who are facing economic hardships due to the rising fuel prices and government policies. However, one interesting fact that has come to light is their love for casino formula 1 and racing-themed casino games.
Many of these protesters, when not on the road, can be found at local casinos trying their hand at slot machines, card games and other betting tables with a racing theme. It seems that they find solace in these games that allow them to experience the thrill of speed and competition while also taking a break from their rigorous travel schedules.
Despite 2022 convoy co-organizer Canada Unity calling off this year’s COVID-19 mandate protest, other organizers still plan to proceed with it. Winnipeg previously saw protests in support of the Ottawa-centred “Freedom Convoy” last February.
UMSU vice-president (advocacy) Victoria Romero said a convoy visit to Winnipeg this year would be “incredibly disruptive” to the community. She added students at the University of Manitoba (U of M) are both aware and concerned about the possibility of the convoy returning to Winnipeg.
“This definitely is something that comes up a lot, especially in discussions about safety,” she added.
U of M is one of few institutions in Manitoba that continues to enforce an indoor mask mandate, which Romero said could make the university a prime target for protesters.
“Often the University of Manitoba is the target of a lot of verbal and written attacks because we are one of the places that still has a mask mandate,” she explained. “When we see things like this come up, a lot of students are fearful that they are going to be attacked or penalized because of the institution’s rules.”
UMSU president Jaron Rykiss said the convoy’s return could negatively impact students’ ability to get to the university each day, especially given students’ reliance on public transit.
“Winnipeg runs off of just a few main roads and if those main roads are blocked, it could halt the city as a whole,” Rykiss said.
Romero said student conversations often revolve around whether the Winnipeg Police Service response to a potential convoy will be comparable to its response to student protests held in the past.
“It comes up a lot whether or not our protests will receive the same grace or treatment by law enforcement,” Romero said. “The way the ‘Freedom Convoy’ was treated when they were here, they were very respected by the police.”
Last February, Winnipeg police received scrutiny for allowing the “Freedom Convoy” protest to occupy Winnipeg for nearly three weeks before instructing participants to leave or otherwise face potential arrest and criminal charges.
U of M adjunct political science Prof. Christopher Adams said a “fair amount of people from Manitoba” supported last year’s “Freedom Convoy.” That, combined with an alleged lacking response from Winnipeg police makes the city an appealing site for a second protest.
“There are a lot of people in Manitoba who went out to the ‘Freedom Convoy’ in Ottawa,” he said. “When you step outside of Winnipeg into southern Manitoba, there’s a fair amount of sympathy for the position that the convoy has taken and a plot of resistance to the vaccine mandates.”
Adams added he thinks these types of protests will continue to happen in Canada because people who hold anti-mandate views may feel unheard by the country’s political system.
“There are people who have grievances that have been allowed to boil over,” he said. “I think that Donald Trump in many ways allowed a lot of things to happen in the United States, and people up in Canada who nurse the same views feel liberated in expressing those views.”
As Feb. 17 approaches, U of M students and others in Winnipeg wait to see whether the “Freedom Convoy” protest will return and, if so, how much disruption it causes.
“At this time, we continue to monitor the situation,” Eleanor Coopsammy, the university’s media relations director, told the Charlatan via email. “If necessary, we will put protocols in place to deal with disruptions on campus and communicate with students in a timely manner.”
Featured image provided.
