Echoing the protests in Canada, a convoy of trucks and campervans blocked streets near New Zealand's parliament in Wellington against coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations, news agency AFP reported. The report noted that the trucks were plastered with messages such as "give us back our freedom" and "coercion is not consent". Further updates are awaited.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a political bind at the moment, with thousands of protesters congregated in Ottawa against vaccine mandates and coronavirus lockdowns. Residents of Ottawa are furious at the nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruption and harassment, and fear no end is in sight after the police chief called it a siege that he could not manage.
The mayor of Ottawa declared a state of emergency and a former US ambassador to Canada said groups in the US must stop interfering in the domestic affairs of America's neighbor as protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions continued to paralyse the city.
Mayor Jim Watson said the declaration highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it delivers services, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders.
The freedom truck convoy has attracted support from many US Republicans including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a far left lunatic who has "destroyed Canada with insane coronavirus mandates.
"Under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop," Bruce Heyman, a former US ambassador under President Barack Obama, tweeted.
After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund or redirect to charities the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent US Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained and vowed investigations.
-Inputs from agencies