Feb. 12, 2021 -- Police in Windsor, Ontario, acted Saturday morning to remove a trucker-led protest over COVID-19 safety measures that blocked traffic on the Ambassador Bridge, a major border crossing between the United States and Canada.

ABC News reported that many protesters began driving away as police approached not long after dawn. By mid-morning, all of the trucks were gone from the base of the bridge while some protesters remained on foot, according to ABC.

The police tweeted Saturday morning: “The Windsor Police & its policing partners have commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge. We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully & peacefully. Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had warned Friday that the government might suspend trucker licenses and level charges that could result in jail time, CBC reported. A judge in Ontario issued an injunction giving protesters until 7 p.m. Friday to move off the bridge, but the deadline passed and the protesters remained Friday night.

The Ambassador Bridge carries about 25% of goods between the U.S. and Canada and the blockade has forced the auto industry in both nations to temporarily scale back production.

The demonstrations started as an outcry against a Canadian rule that truckers needed to be vaccinated to cross into the United States but were quickly joined by non-truckers complaining about pandemic restrictions in general, such as provincial mask and vaccine mandates.

About two weeks ago, hundreds of truckers rolled into Ottawa, the nation’s capital, and blocked streets and intersections in the middle of town, including near Parliament.

The so-called “Freedom Convoys” have spread to Quebec City, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and other cities.

A protest inspired by the Canadian truckers occurred Saturday in Paris, where vehicles carrying protesters got through police barricades and blocked traffic around the Arc de Triomphe monument, Reuters reported.

Police fired tear gas to break up the protests, Reuters said. Earlier in the day, about 500 vehicles were blocked from entering the city and 300 tickets were given out, police told Reuters.

The main issue in the French protests is rules requiring proof of vaccination to enter many public places.

ABC News. “Canada police arrive to remove protesters at US border”

CBA. “Trudeau warns of 'severe consequences' for anti-vaccine mandate protesters who don't stand down”

Reuters. “Police fire tear gas as anti-restrictions "Freedom Convoy" enters Paris”

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