An attempt to interrupt a “slow roll” vehicle convoy in Peterborough on Saturday (February 19) turned confrontational, according to a video posted on social media, with a dump truck almost running over a counter-protester followed by a convoy participant potentially assaulting the same counter-protester.
A small group of counter-protesters gathered on the southeast corner of Brealey Drive at Stenson Boulevard across from Fleming College late Saturday morning, with the intention of frequently pushing the pedestrian crossing button to break up the so-called “Freedom Rally Convoy”, which had left Whittington Drive at 11 a.m. on its way to downtown Peterborough.
The video shows one of the counter-protesters standing in the middle of the crosswalk, while recording on his phone, attempting to block convoy vehicles from going through the green light. A police vehicle heading in the opposite direction stops briefly in the intersection to speak with the counter-protester (the conversation is illegible) before driving away.
The counter-protester continues to stand in the crosswalk, with two pickup trucks driving around him to proceed through the green light. A dump truck then slowly heads into the crosswalk, stopping just before hitting the counter-protester. At this point the light has turned red.
When the light turns green again, and with the counter-protester still standing in the middle of the crosswalk, the dump truck sounds its horn and then slowly proceeds into the crosswalk, forcing the counter-protester to take several steps back. He puts his hand on the truck’s grill, and the truck continues to sound its horn and slowly move forward, physically pushing the counter-protester into the intersection, at which point the truck stops.
One of the convoy’s organizers, who had parked his truck on Stenson Boulevard , then approaches the counter-protester. As he tells the counter-protester what he was doing is illegal, another convoy participant suddenly appears, apparently coming from a vehicle in the line of traffic waiting at the intersection.
The organizer Sebastian and others in the convoy got out to berate the counter protestor, with one guy having a complete meltdown/temper tantrum and possibly assaulting them. #ptbo #ptbokawartha #Convoy pic.twitter.com/cl0qQzSuem
— Johnny Fondue (@EatsFood2) February 19, 2022
Holding his hands in the air, the convoy participant repeatedly pushes his chest into the counter-protester while repeatedly yelling “What’s the problem here?” When the counter-protester places his hand against the chest of the convoy participant to keep him away, the convoy participant yells “Don’t touch me! Get your fucking hands off of me!” before slapping the counter-protester’s hand away.
While this is going on, the convoy organizer ignores the confrontation while telling the person shooting the video, “We already have the police on board.”
Meanwhile, the convoy participant repeatedly shouts “Get off me!” as he chases the counter-protester, who is trying to avoid him. The convoy participant eventually chases the counter-protester out of the intersection, and the dump trunk proceeds through a green light.
Apparently undeterred, the counter-protester then returns to the crosswalk to block vehicles from going through the intersection. Within a few seconds, two police vehicles arrive. A police officer approaches the counter-protester to explain he is not allowed to be in the crosswalk unless he has the right of way.
“The officer came up behind us and stood away from the street on the sidewalk,” the person who shot the video tells kawarthaNOW, asking to remain anonymous. “He was perfectly reasonable and non-confrontational.”
After this point, the counter-protester does not attempt to block the crosswalk again. At least 50 vehicles participating in the convoy go through the intersection during the time of the video.
VIDEO: Peterborough “slow roll” interrupted
Late Saturday afternoon, Peterborough police issued a media release about the “convoy event”.
“Peterborough Police Service would like to thank the community for their patience today while officers were monitoring a moving convoy through the City of Peterborough,” police say. “By monitoring this event, police were able to ensure the safety of all members of the community which is the number one focus of the service.”
“Peterborough Police Service would like to reiterate that ensuring the safety of our community does not equal an endorsement of the action. Every day and every event Peterborough Police Service balances the right to peacefully protest with the rights of the community. In this instance, the group was closely monitored and there no traffic infractions.”
According to a source who asked to remain anonymous, police are investigating a possible assault against the counter-protester by the convoy participant.
In its media release, police only state “There is an incident at Brealey Drive and Stenson Boulevard that is being investigated.”
kawarthaNOW reached out to the counter-protester, who asked to remain anonymous, for an interview. He replied he was unable to respond as he was “at police.”
“Peterborough Police understands that these are challenging times and that a lot of people are frustrated,” the media release reads. “The Peterborough Police Service is committed to public safety and will continue to be.”
On Sunday afternoon, Peterborough police issued another statement to respond to social media comments about the video claiming people standing in the background at the entrance to Fleming College were police officers who did not take action during the incident.
“This is not the case,” the statement reads. “These were members of security at Sir Sandford Fleming College. Our understanding is that they were positioned at this location to monitor traffic flow into their property during the convoy.”
The statement adds, “The police investigation into the incident at Brealey Drive and Stenson Boulevard continues.”
The story has been updated to include Sunday’s statement from the Peterborough police.
