Coutts since Jan. 29 to rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and broader public health restrictions.Commercial and personal vehicles left the area Tuesday, one day after RCMP arrested 13 people and seized a cache of firearms and ammunition.Here they go.
After more than two weeks, a convoy of protesters has left the Alberta border town of Coutts pic.twitter.com/fJbA49NWlc— Heather Yourex-West (@HeatherYourex) February 15, 2022Protests are now moving out here in #Coutts – leaving in a convoy along the highway they first came in on 18 days ago: pic.twitter.com/1pHT8r5fxI— Lauren Pullen (@Lauren_Global) February 15, 2022The Canada Border Services Agency also confirmed Tuesday morning that operations have resumed at the Coutts port of entry.“The CBSA thanks travellers for their patience and for helping us to minimize the impact of the this border service disruption,” the CBSA said in a statement.
RCMP arrest 13 people, seize weapons and ammunition near Coutts border blockade Marco Van Huidenvos is one of the organizers of the protest.
He said the decision to leave was made Monday.“We made the decision yesterday to leave peacefully on our terms after the events that came to light with some of the members, participants of this protest having firearms and protective equipment,” he said Tuesday morning.“Our message has been one of peace, peaceful protest and to keep that message strong, we felt the best decision was to move out.”Fellow protester Martina Vanhierden said it was too bad they had to leave.“We don’t want to have violence.