Canada’s Prime Minister scorned Canadian truckers occupying the nation’s capital for freedom on Monday, after footage appeared to show one or two random men holding flags associated with hate—the Nazi flag and the Confederate flag.
Trudeau addressed the country not from Ottawa, but from his lake cottage in Quebec after he was evacuated from the capital due to what was called “security concerns.”
The prime minister also conveniently contracted COVID-19 on the same weekend that the truckers arrived into town, with official reports saying that the prime minister got the illness from his children.
“I know you’re wondering about what you saw in our capital city this weekend. Freedom of expression, assembly, and association, are cornerstones of democracy. But Nazi symbolism, racist imagery, and desecration of war memorials are not. It’s an insult to memory and truth.”
Disgusting & divisive tone from @JustinTrudeau. I'm an Eastern European Jew. My family suffered from hate.
I don't fear or focus on a few idiots. #ISupportTheTruckers' right to peaceful protest+ability to earn living w/o taking medication. PM is spreading hate. #onpoli #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/rTpeRDoLNg
— Roman Baber (@Roman_Baber) January 31, 2022
Independent Canadian news outlets have offered thousands of dollars to locate the man flying the Nazi flag, including True North and The Post Millennial.
“Hate can never be the answer. Over the past few days, Canadians were shocked, and frankly, disgusted by the behaviour displayed by some people protesting in our nation’s capital,” Trudeau said.
“We won’t give in to those who fly racist flags, we won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonour the memory of our veterans.
“There is no place in our country for threats, violence, or hatred. So to those responsible for this behaviour, it needs to stop. To anyone who joined the convoy but is rightly uncomfortable with the symbols of hatred and division on display, join your fellow Canadians. Be courageous and speak out.”
“To those politicians exploiting peoples’ fears. I ask you to think long and hard about to consequences of your actions. To the nearly 90 percent of truckers across the country who have gotten vaccinated, Thank you,” he concluded.
The Prime Minister DID, however, say that he attends protests when he supports them. In 2020, following the death of George Floyd, Trudeau took a knee with protesters.
NOW – Canada's PM Justin Trudeau accuses the trucker convoy crowd of "hateful rhetoric" and "violence toward citizens," he rather prefers to attend BLM protests. pic.twitter.com/JpPhpTKZhm
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 31, 2022
“I have attended protests and rallies in the past. When I agreed with the goals, when I supported the people expressing their concerns and their issues, Black Lives Matter is an excellent example of that,” he said on Monday.
“But I have also chosen to not go anywhere near protests that have expressed hateful rhetoric, violence toward fellow citizens. And a disrespect, not just of science, but of the frontline health workers and quite frankly, the 90% of truckers who have been doing the right thing to keep Canadians safe, to put food on our tables. Canadians know where I stand. This is a moment for responsible leaders to think carefully about where they stand and who they stand with.”
