Demonstrators support the truckers drive to Ottawa in Salmon Arm Sunday. (Submitted photo/Twitter/Rita880)

By Pete McIntyre

600 participants

RCMP thank ‘peaceful’ demonstrators at trucker convoy, others abusive to officers

Jan 24, 2022 | 3:43 PM

RCMP in Salmon Arm are thanking the people who showed their support for the truckers freedom convoy in a peaceful and safe manner.

Police say hundreds of people lined the Trans Canada Highway in the Shuswap city to support the truckers who are driving to Ottawa to protest the vaccine mandate on cross- border truck drivers.

“The estimated 600 people were largely respectful of the officers as they protested,” said Staff Sgt. Scott West. “Protesters were asked to leave the median under the Motor Vehicle Act and for safety reasons. They did so, relocating to the curb or the sidewalk adjacent to the sidewalk.”

West said while most people followed their safety advice, a small group were abusive to the officers.

“They yelled at, and taunted officers who were asking people to leave the center median because the passing vehicles may cause was a safety risk for the demonstrators,” West said.

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West said police attend these events to preserve rights and one of those rights is to lawful assembly but they also have a goal to make sure everyone is safe.

“In this case the public, the motorists and the police personnel could all have been at risk at one point or another during this two to three hour event due to the environment they were all in,” said the veteran officer.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance says 90 per cent of truck drivers are already vaccinated and is denouncing a protest convoy now making its way to Ottawa.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending the vaccine mandate for cross-border truck drivers.

But the Conservatives in turn are pressuring Trudeau to lift the Canadian mandate, calling it a risk to Canada’s supply chains and economic recovery.

(With files from The Canadian Press)