Protests in Canada for measures against covid-19 turn 2 weeks

(Related video) Canada is considered "very high" risk to travel 1:01

(CNN)

Protests in Canada over COVID-19 regulations are in their second week, amid blocked roads and noisy demonstrations, as well as reports of hate crime incidents under investigation and arrests being made. amid reports of stones and eggs being thrown.

The protests began with a group of truckers arriving in the heart of Ottawa on January 29 to reject the new coronavirus testing and vaccination rules.

Those demonstrations inspired other protests this weekend in major cities across Canada, including Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto and Quebec City.

• CDC adds Canada to its 'very high risk' travel list for COVID-19

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency on Sunday afternoon as the city became a hotspot for the "Freedom Convoy" protests.

Most of the more than 60 criminal investigations moving forward in Ottawa include hate crimes, property damage, robbery and mischief, police said.

"Declaring a state of emergency reflects the grave danger and threat to the safety of residents posed by the current demonstrations. And it highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," Watson said in a statement.

Arrests at protests in Ottawa, Canada

There were at least seven arrests this Sunday, while at least 450 citations have been issued since Saturday morning, the Ottawa Police Service reported.

The protesters "engaged in extremely disruptive and illegal behavior," police said in a statement.

He added that this caused "public safety risks and unacceptable distress" for residents.

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People wave flags on top of a truck in front of Parliament on Sunday as truckers and their supporters continue to protest Covid-19 vaccination mandates in Ottawa.

Most protesters are acting peacefully to express their discontent with the recent vaccination mandates.

However, the actions of stopping trucks and blocking roads are a growing nuisance for residents and businesses.

Most businesses in downtown Ottawa have been closed for more than a week or have been operating with reduced hours.

And homeowners complain to city officials of financial difficulties as customers dwindle.

Still, some protesters in Canada say they won't be going anywhere until changes are made.

"The whole situation has gone beyond vaccinations, and now it's about the measure in general," protester James MacDonald told CNN.

He also added that he has been in Ottawa since last weekend and has no plans to leave until the health measures are lifted.

The demonstrations began as an objection to the recent vaccination mandate that requires truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated or meet testing and quarantine requirements.

Other protesters have come together to protest against mask orders, lockdowns, restrictions on gatherings and other preventive efforts against covid-19.

Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with about 4 in 5 people fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Ottawa Police Investigating Possible Hate Crimes

Police have responded to more than 650 calls for service related to the demonstrations since they began, officials said Sunday.

The city's hate crime hotline -- which was created after reports of anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic acts at the COVID-19 protests -- also received more than 200 calls, according to police.

"We already have a number of hate-related incidents that we're looking into," Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said last week.

"We encourage anyone who has been the victim of a hate crime, or who thinks they may have been the victim of or exposed to hate incidents, to contact us," he said.

Road blocks and barricades remained in place throughout much of Ottawa, especially in the city center, on Sunday morning, according to police.

Authorities have repeatedly advised protesters "not to go into Ottawa and go home."

Police issued hundreds of warnings over the weekend, including excessive honking, driving the wrong way or on a sidewalk, not wearing a seat belt, having alcohol available and having the wrong class of driver's license, they said. .

Vehicles and fuel have been seized, police said.

So they warn that "anyone caught carrying fuel to protest trucks in the red zone could be subject to arrest and charges."

A weekend of arrests and protests in Canada

In Vancouver, several hundred vehicles traveled through the city to take part in the protests there, police said.

Five people were arrested on Saturday, amid reports of "throwing stones and eggs, kicking cars and scattering nails on roads," according to authorities.

All five were taken to jail and later released, police said.

Among them was a 29-year-old US citizen from Washington state who was arrested after officers saw him wearing a balaclava and pulling a wagon full of egg cartons, according to police.

The man had a knife in a sheath strapped to his belt and two eggs in his jacket pocket, they said.

"Everyone has the right to peacefully assemble and express their opinions. And the Vancouver Police Department is committed to providing a safe environment for lawful protests," said Police Sgt. Steve Addison. "Today's protests drew thousands of people passionate about their causes. While most of the protesters were peaceful, some had to be arrested for violent behavior and illegal conduct."

In Toronto, Canada's largest city, thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday.

And despite the efforts of local police, several trucks blocked a major intersection for hours.

Police reported problems clearing the way for emergency vehicles near the protest.

It also warned again in a statement that this was "unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

Quebec City similarly reported that thousands of protesters and hundreds of trucks clogged the streets, as residents and visitors tried to enjoy a winter carnival.

In Winnipeg, a Friday night demonstration turned dangerous when a man charged into a crowd and punched four people, according to the Winnipeg Police Department.

Three of the injured did not require medical attention and the fourth was treated and released from an area hospital, police said.

The suspect, arrested after a brief struggle with police, faces 11 charges.

They included assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a vehicle and failing to stop after an accident, authorities said.

CNN's Joe Sutton, Keith Allen, Laura James, Melissa Alonso, Caroline Kucera, Caroll Alvarado, Eric Levenson and Hannah Sarisohn contributed to this report.

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