A gaggle of individuals eliminated the fencing surrounding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Nationwide Conflict Memorial Saturday afternoon, because the demonstration in opposition to COVID-19 mandates continued in downtown Ottawa.
Safety fences had surrounded the memorial since Jan. 30, after a number of incidents in the course of the opening weekend of the "Freedom Convoy" demonstration. Video on social media confirmed a person dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the time.
Simply after 1 p.m., a bunch of protesters started eradicating the fencing across the conflict memorial. CTV Information reporter Mackenzie Grey mentioned individuals within the group gave the impression to be veterans.
"They had been known as as much as the entrance to face proper on the entrance of the monument," Grey mentioned on Twitter.
"They then did a prayer, the place amongst different issues, they known as on the prime minister to drop vaccine mandates," Grey reported.
A number of law enforcement officials had been standing on Elgin Avenue close to the Nationwide Conflict Memorial because the fencing got here down.
"It is vital that occurred as a result of persons are attempting to offer a message which you could't simply muzzle us, you may't put a masks over our face, you may't preserve us away from this" mentioned retired Maj. Harold Ristau, Canadian Armed Forces chaplain.
"If the fence goes up, that is not a hill to die on."
Demonstrators say the Nationwide Conflict Memorial needs to be accessible.
"That is mine, that is veteran stuff there. We're on the identical web page right here," mentioned Ristau.
CTV Information Ottawa reporter Colton Praill mentioned it is believed Ottawa police will not reinstall the fence till it is deemed protected to take action.
The Royal Canadian Legion says the removing of the fencing is "deeply disturbing."
"The Nationwide Conflict Memorial is a website of collective remembrance and should be handled with utmost respect always," the Legion mentioned in a press release.
"The removing of protecting barricades and the reported inaction by these charged with safeguarding this memorial, is deeply disturbing. We should guarantee this website is just not additional desecrated. Those that sacrificed for our freedoms deserve higher."
Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay known as the removing of the fences "fully unacceptable."
"Fences had been put as much as stop the flagrant desecration and disrespect of our sacred monuments. This behaviour is disappointing and I’m calling on protesters to respect our monuments," MacAulay mentioned on Twitter.
Ottawa police are nonetheless seeking to establish a suspect after the desecration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Jan. 29. Video on social media confirmed somebody standing on the monument, shouting "freedom."
Canada's chief of the defence workers mentioned he was "sickened" to see video of individuals dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the course of the protest in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and different public well being measures.
"I'm sickened to see protesters dance on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and desecrate the Nationwide Conflict Memorial," mentioned Gen. Wayne Eyre in a message on Twitter on Jan. 29. "Generations of Canadians have fought and died for our rights, together with free speech, however not this. These concerned ought to grasp their heads in disgrace."
With information from CTV Information Ottawa's Colton Praill and CTV Information Mackenzie Grey
Demonstrators stand on the Nationwide Conflict Memorial after tearing down fencing defending the memorial in downtown Ottawa on Saturday. (Colton Praill/CTV Information Ottawa)
Safety fencing across the Nationwide Conflict Memorial was eliminated by a bunch of individuals in the course of the "Freedom Convoy" demonstration in downtown Ottawa. (Photograph submitted to CTV Information Ottawa)
A gaggle of individuals eliminated the safety fencing across the Nationwide Conflict Memorial in downtown Ottawa on Saturday. (Photograph submitted to CTV Information Ottawa)
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