Motorcycle rally and rallies in Ottawa
The events will last from April 29 to May 1.
Traffic on some streets in the city center has been limited since the evening of April 28. Buses will continue to run, and the shopping malls that were closed during the Freedom Convoy, a three-week demonstration against epidemiological restrictions, will remain open. Ottawa police promise to ensure a quiet weekend for residents, but people are still anxious. Polls show that most Canadians did not approve of the three-week-long rally and do not want a repeat.
Officially, the April 30 event is dedicated to veterans of the Canadian armed forces and police, but it involves several groups of people whose motivations are hardly the same. The Rolling Thunder Ottawa, 'Rolling Thunder' event website states that Veterans for Freedom, Canadian Freedom Fighters, and Live from the Barn will be participating. The latter organization is closely affiliated with Freedom Convoy. "Live from the Barn" is the YouTube channel of a man who participated with his truck in the truckers' strike, built a hut-like structure on it, and constantly filmed what was happening in Ottawa in those days.
There will be a rally on Parliament Hill on Friday night.
More than 500 bikers want to ride through the city on Saturday. Before the motorcycle rally, they will visit the National War Memorial, a symbolic grave of Canadians who died in military service, and lay flowers. Also scheduled for Saturday is a rally with Chris Skye, an anti-epidemic activist and founder of Hugs Instead of Masks. There is to be a bike show in the evening; the location has not yet been announced.
On Sunday, run participants will attend a family service at Capital City Bikers Church. This is a Pentecostal church, one of the most widespread branches of Protestantism, which unites Christian motorcyclists.
