COVID-19 truck blockade in Canada shuts down Ford plant

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ROB GILLIES and TOM KRISHER

TORONTO (AP) — A blockade of the bridge between Canada and Detroit by protesters demanding an end to Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions forced the shutdown Wednesday of a Ford plant and began to have broader implications for the North American auto industry.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, stood firm against an easing of Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions in the face of mounting pressure during recent weeks by protests against the restrictions and against Trudeau himself.

The protest by people mostly in pickup trucks entered its third day at the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Traffic was prevented from entering Canada, while U.S.-bound traffic was still moving.

The bridge carries 25% of all trade between the two countries, and Canadian authorities expressed increasing worry about the economic effects.



A small line of semi-trailer trucks line up along northbound I-75 in Detroit as the Ambassador Bridge entrance is blocked off for travel to Canada on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Canadian lawmakers are expressing increasing worry about the economic effects of disruptive COVID-19 demonstrations. They spoke Tuesday after the busiest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada became partially blocked by truckers protesting vaccine mandates and other coronavirus restrictions. The Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, carries 25 percent of trade between the two countries. (Ryan Garza/Detroit Free Press via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-prince-edward-canada-6f60c879c0c2eff82235e3157ad79bb0

[TheRealNorth]

1. Normally, when someone sabotages critical infrastructure....

For a political purpose, that is called Terrorism.

[durablend]

15. Yeah but it can't be terrorism

They're all white, aren't they?

[pandr32]

2. What a headache

This minority of selfish, stupid, and manipulated loudmouths get to use large trucks to make themselves more visible. I really hope they take a big hit for this stunt.

[electric_blue68]

3. Yeah, I was hearing about this last night on NPR...

I also remember as I was ('80s) heading to East Lansing by bus driving through Detroit and seeing a "To Canada" Sign.

I was like "Wait...What!!???"

We drove to Canada twice when I was a young teen. Being from NYC - it was a long drive!
So I was shocked to be in Detroit, and suddenly a Canadian sign. Of course, later I was like - silly me, this is where Canada dips down close to Detroit. 😄👍

[obamanut2012]

4. How is this not terrorism?

[Polybius]

7. How is it?

Nobody was murdered.

[obamanut2012]

9. lolz Murder isn't what makes terrorism terrorism, and you know that

Just stop it.

[Polybius]

11. Parking your vehicle doesn't make terrorism, unless they blow it up

And you know that. They are inconsiderate assholes though.

[C_U_L8R]

23. It is the very dictionary definition of terrorism

"the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims." So says Oxford.

[Budi]

5. "The truckers who can park their rigs in Ottawa for a few weeks are not living paycheck to paycheck"

Link to tweet

Who's the big money behind this terrorist org, posing as a 'freedom for the oppressed' bullshit?

[oldsoftie]

18. I would bet most money is coming from foreigners.

THEY profit the most by dividing the people; Canada or US

I certainly think most social media encouragement is foreign

[Budi]

25. Yup. Hope Canada & US has methods in place to track & stop the source of $$$.

Sanctions that squeeze the corrupt lifeblood from Putin & his global Oil Oligarchy are more critical than ever.

As it stands RU, Venezuela & IRAN are the two culprits who market their oil via Crypto.

Tjis is why Putin was promoting Crypto from the beginning.
It isn't recognized as Money on the World monetary system.
Crypto was the perfect $$$ Laundering tool that allowed RU & authoritarian nations to do business outside of the eyes of regulation.

Russia stands to increase its oil market by the billions this yr, should the Ukraine sabre rattling go on indefinately.

Biden had it right from the beginning when he said Severe sanctions against Putin would be put in place.
He needs that Oil/gas pipeline & with a crushing of sanctions by Biden & our Allies, his economy crashes.

War is the ace he will continue to wave as a threat, as long as its profitable

Biden's sanctions would be devastating to Vlad.

As for the TruckConvoy, destablizing a Democracy is just one big step in achieving his global unfettered authoritarian rule.

[oldsoftie]

29. Russias markets should be shut down NOW & only reopened if the Soviets pull back

Yes, I called them Soviets because that's how they're acting

[Budi]

30. Yes. The old KGB Soviets

[RockRaven]

6. Why aren't the vehicles which block traffic being impounded and their drivers arrested?

I'm pretty sure if I just parked my car on a highway on-ramp or off-ramp or on one of the bridges around here the CHP would show up and yeet me the fuck outta there.

[Polybius]

10. That would be an awful lot of tow trucks

Not sure there would ne enough, unless it's a few at a time.

[Lemon Lyman]

12. Yup

Exactly.

I'm sick of these types of very small %'s of loudmouths getting their way.

[multigraincracker]

16. Better yet...

Revoke their commercial license.

[oldsoftie]

19. With the massive shortage of truckers they know that's not going to happen.

They really do have the upper hand because of those big trucks. It would take weeks to actually tow all those as opposed to a car

[Polybius]

8. I never supported blocking traffic in protests

Don't care if it's the right or left.

[joelg]

13. How Come?

How is this not economic terrorism?

[bluestarone]

14. Maybe if the blockers were told they have 24 hours to MOVE,( at least call toll truck company) or

Each unit will be fined $20,000 per day, after this ends. They know who these assholes are. Just get the cameras rolling getting all vehicle info ready to impose the fine!! Get them ALL when it ends!!

[BlueWavePsych]

17. Financial terrorism - (terroristic attacks against ports and land borders)

Financial terrorism (also known as economic terrorism) has been a common tactic used, usually by secretly manipulating of a nation's economy by state or non-state actors.[2] However, economic sanctions can be named as the unconcealed examples of economic terrorism in the last decades.[3] economic terrorism targets civilians of nations or groups in the pursuit of political aims.

Terroristic attacks against ports and land borders cause extra measures to be implemented to ensure the safe arrival of the product. These measures force the cost of exporting and importing goods to increase. Emerging economies are the most affected, because the slowing of exports and imports will affect the country’s ability to combat poverty. An increase in poverty can cause revolts among the population and possible political destabilization, forcing an even greater increase in poverty.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_terrorism

[Vinca]

20. This is nuts. They should be arresting these people, impounding their trucks and

suspending their licenses. It's terrorism and it's probably costing lives. I know my husband is currently waiting for a delivery of insulin from Canada.

[Owl]

21. Don't these people have jobs? Or loads to transport?

[BlueIdaho]

32. Oh haven't you heard?

There aren’t enough truckers to open up the clogged supply chains. That’s why you find empty shelves in stores. We’re supposed to feel sorry for these poor suffering truckers now.

[appleannie1]

22. They could be cutting off their noses to spite their faces

The insurance company is seriously thinking of dropping their coverage as it is. Without insurance if they move the truck they could be arrested and it could snowball to where they lose their trucks and their livelihood. Not only that, there could be unseen ramifications if they completely shut down a road and deny access to ambulances or fire trucks.

[BlueWavePsych]

24. Good angle. Dropped insurance covereages!

Moreover, commercial licenses should be revoked ... yesterday

[Initech]

26. God I hate these idiots.

[DownriverDem]

27. Going back to the railroads - President Truman - Aug 25, 1950

In a public statement that day, Truman insisted that “governmental seizure [of the railroads] is imperative” for the protection of American citizens as well as “essential to the national defense and security of the Nation.” He used the same justification for seizing control of steel plants when the United Steel Workers union struck later in the year.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-orders-army-to-seize-control-of-railroads

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

28. Shhh! Don't tell anyone about the railway tunnel under the Detroit River.

They'll block it in a heartbeat.

[BlueIdaho]

31. Pull their CDLs

And cancel their insurance. Enough of this shit already.