A protester in Coutts, Alberta, has shared his harrowing experience of fleeing from the RCMP and a helicopter during a demonstration.
The protest, which took place on Wednesday, was in response to the federal government’s decision to extend the closure of the Canada-U.S. border due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The protester, who wished to remain anonymous, told CTV News that he was “terrified” when the RCMP and a helicopter arrived at the scene.
“I was peacefully protesting with a group of people when suddenly, the RCMP and a helicopter showed up. I was terrified and immediately started running,” he said.
The protester explained that he and others were protesting the border closure because it has had a significant impact on their lives and livelihoods.
“We are not criminals, we are just regular people who are struggling because of the border closure. We have families, businesses, and jobs on the other side of the border that we can’t access,” he said.
The RCMP confirmed that they were called to the scene of the protest and that a helicopter was used to monitor the situation from the air.
“Officers were called to the area to ensure the safety of all individuals involved. A helicopter was used to monitor the situation from the air, and no arrests were made,” said Cpl. Tammy Keibel in a statement to CTV News.
The protester expressed his disappointment with the government’s decision to extend the border closure and the use of force by the RCMP.
“We were peacefully protesting, and we were met with a show of force. It’s not right. We just want our voices to be heard and for the government to reconsider their decision,” he said.
The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020, and the closure has been extended multiple times. The latest extension is set to expire on July 21, but there is no indication of when the border will fully reopen.
The protester hopes that his experience will shed light on the struggles faced by those affected by the border closure and that the government will take their concerns into consideration.
“I hope that our message will be heard, and the government will understand the impact that the border closure is having on our lives. We just want to be able to cross the border and live our lives as we used to,” he said.
The RCMP has not provided any further details on the incident, and the protester has not indicated if he plans to continue protesting.
