Surrey border protest swells with more demonstrators (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)
Throughout the day on Saturday, February 19, demonstrators continued to gather near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing.
When demonstrators weren’t busy apparently harassing reporters, they were cheerfully waving flags, protest signs – one of which read “Don’t turn Canada into China – and honking air horns.
The increased protest activity associated with the Freedom Convoy occupation in Ottawa prompted RCMP to shut down 176 Street to all traffic from 8th Avenue as a preventative measure.
“While police respect the right to protest, enforcement will be taken in the event protest activity becomes unlawful,” the RCMP said.
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Photos and videos posted to social media show what it was like on the ground at the protest:
Right now in Surrey BC pic.twitter.com/nbqflj3UzU
— Thomas (@Thomas46577171) February 19, 2022
🇨🇦 Nous sommes avec vous, Ottawa ! Surrey envoie ses salutations @VigilantFox pic.twitter.com/mSbPxrKIX4
— KARIM (@KARIMAMARKHODJ1) February 20, 2022
This is Border at Surrey BC Today. pic.twitter.com/wX5DJkImJ1
— Mathew (@commonsensitiv) February 20, 2022
Freedom Rally Lower mainland / Surrey @ BC #freedomconvoy22 #FreedomConvoyCanada2022 pic.twitter.com/pohfi8hVAy
— Mandy-May (@MadMandyMay) February 19, 2022
Freedom Rally Lower mainland/Surrey & BC #freedomconvoy22 #FreedomConvoyCanada2022 #JustinTrudeauMustResign #ConvoyForFreedom2022 pic.twitter.com/dApqVavCwM
— Mandy-May (@MadMandyMay) February 19, 2022
For crews with CBC and Global News, they had a different experience entirely. Journalists shared videos showing how demonstrators were aggressive towards them. In the videos, you can hear protesters screaming at them and even spitting.
⚠️WARNING: Profane language.
My camera operator and I get swarmed by protesters and followed — after an interview with police media relations.
Officers escort us to our vehicle after we receive verbal threats. #bcpoli #TruckerConvoy pic.twitter.com/280fzoq2UD
— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) February 19, 2022
WARNING: Strong language. Convoy supporters & anti-vaccine protestors swarm our camera at 176th & 8th Ave. Pacific Hwy border crossing closed again. @cbcnewsbc @CBCAlerts pic.twitter.com/5V4Ox6CLIm
— Dan Burritt (@DanBurritt) February 19, 2022
Meantime, in Ottawa, police are moving to push out unlawful protesters after weeks of occupation.