Protestor Explains His Experience Going to Ottawa Every Weekend

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Tuesday, 15 February 2022 12:36

Todd McEachern explains why he is spending his weekends in Ottawa to protest and why he will continue to go down, even with the Emergencies Act invoked.

(OPINION)

The ongoing protests across Canada continue to cause division in the Country.

Yesterday Premier Doug Ford acknowledged division in his own family over COVID-19 restrictions. Ford stated the pandemic has fractured us as a society with different views on vaccines, public health measures and personal freedoms. His daughter has long been advocating against vaccines and mandates and has been very vocal against lockdowns on social media and at protests.

These are conversations happening around dinner tables across the Country.

These are conversations I am having with my own family and friends. Now I am lucky enough to have a tight knit family and friend circle that even when we don't agree with each other, we still respect everyone's opinions and at the end of the day, we still love each other. Some people I have talked to have not had that luxury and this issue has caused division in family circles and friend groups from coast to coast.

One of my closest friends Todd McEachern has been spending his weekends in Ottawa to protest against mandates and to support the truckers. I was not surprised when he first told me he was going as Todd has always had strong convictions and has always been very supportive of peaceful protests, regardless of the cause. I told him this past Friday that I thought he should stay home after the Premier declared a State of Emergency.

I have many friends and family who are not the least bit supportive of these protests and I have many who are. If you read any of the comments online, including the Heart FM Facebook page, you get a real sense of the division. Name calling and arguing seem to rule the day. This is not the least bit helpful as tensions remain high in a country that quite possibly is the most divided it has ever been in my lifetime.

Todd's experience at the protest certainly differs from residents who live downtown, some of whom have supported the protests and many others who are beyond fed up with it and it differs from the many people in Canada who support Government mandates in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health care system.

I spoke with Todd today to get his experience in Ottawa. You can check out the interview below where Todd discusses the following:

- Why he went to Ottawa to show his support and why he will continue to go, despite the Emergencies Act being enabled.

- The atmosphere amongst the protestors and what it is like to be in Ottawa right now for residents and for protestors.

- What he is hearing from protestors and he doesn't think they are going to leave until the mandates are lifted.

- The citizens and businesses in Ottawa who are actually supporting the protestors and the ones who don't.

- The party like atmosphere during weekends.

- His experience speaking with the truck drivers who are parked there and why he doesn't think they are going to move.

Check out the interview below: