Toronto police reopen some downtown streets after protests – Toronto
Police have reopened some roads in Toronto downtown core after protests in solidarity with anti-proxy protests in Ottawa takes place in the city on Saturday.
On Friday, Toronto police closed several roads due to protracted protests.
Protesters gather near the Ontario legislature as protests against authorization continue
Police said Queen’s Park Circle to the north, Dundas Street West to the south, Bay Street to the east and University Avenue to the west were closed.
“All traffic from east to west will be diverted, with the exception of TTC,” the officers said.
Early Saturday morning, police extended sieges to Church Street to the east, Spadina Avenue to the west, Queen Street to the south and Dupont Street to the north.
On Sunday, officers said closed roads had reopened.
“Normal traffic to continue in those areas,” the tweet read. “Thank you for your patience.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered in the grounds of Queen’s Park, holding Canadian flags and signs reading “freedom”.
In a statement posted to Twitter Saturday night, Toronto Mayor John Tory said he “received a positive end-of-day press conference from the Toronto Police Chief.” [James] Tonight Ramer talks about the work the police have done throughout the day to protect Toronto.”
“The protests in our city today were conducted in a peaceful and respectful manner,” he said in the statement. “I’m so grateful for that.”
The protests, initially aimed at denouncing vaccine regulations for truckers crossing the Canada-US border, have since morphed into a protest against a variety of COVID-19 restrictions and the federal government.
On Friday, Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency.
Tory thanked the police, city workers and TTC staff for their efforts.
The mayor also confirmed that only University Avenue from Dundas Street to College Street – known as Hospital Row – and Queen’s Park Circle from College Street to Bloor Street were still closed.
“Police are continuing to monitor ‘convoy protests’ across Ontario and are prepared to immediately restore road closures if deemed necessary,” Tory said.
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https://globalnews.ca/news/8616465/toronto-convoy-protests-police-reopen-roads-feb-13-2022/ Toronto police reopen some downtown streets after protests – Toronto
