As the police broke up a weeks-long occupation that began as a protest over pandemic restrictions and evolved into demands for the resignation of the government, the downtown hub of Canada's capital was deafeningly quiet on Sunday.
Canada's reputation for civility and respect for authority was questioned by the "Freedom Convoy," which sparked similar protests in France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand and caused significant disruption in major commerce with the United States.
For over a month, hundreds of big transport trucks blocked the streets around Parliament, and thousands of people from throughout the country braved the bitter winter weather to take part.
Many citizens in the capital were irritated by the siege of Ottawa, which was characterized by truckers incessantly honking their horns and harassing passersby.
Among the citizens of Ottawa who had had enough of the raucous rally was Moreen Valentine, a retired teacher.
"I have the impression that my city is under assault. Since last month, I haven't been able to use the services that I rely on on a daily basis," she told Al Jazeera as police cleared the remainder of the protestors from the streets.
"I suppose I'm looking forward to regaining a kind of normalcy in my life, but I believe there will be a lot of ramifications that we'll have to deal with for the foreseeable future," says the author.
After police came in and dispersed the rally, a 37-year-old woman from Peterborough, Ontario, who would only identify herself as Maggie, claimed it was merely the beginning – and not the end – of the protest movement.
"We're not just going to sit in our box and be terrified any longer," says the group. "We've formed a group," Maggie explained. The group will stick together and hold the line wherever it may be necessary. "We're going to stick up for one another."
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
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