YOU SAID IT: Step it up, chief

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STEP IT UP, CHIEF

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We all saw how tough interim Ottawa police Chief Steve Bell was regarding the truckers convoy and the motorcycle group “Rolling Thunder.” Well, there was a church service in Vanier on Sunday for the bikers and the place of worship parking lot was strewn with thumbtacks and there was graffiti sprayed on the building.

Well, chief, let’s put some of your personnel on the case; this was an unprovoked case of pure hatred against a religious institution and a group of very peaceful people that were terribly vilified by city officials and various pundits.

STEPHEN FLANAGAN

OTTAWA

(“Threatening or intimidating behaviors will be addressed with all appropriate enforcement action.”)

BOY SCOUT INSTEAD?

I guess that Mayor Watson and Justin Trudeau are quite proud of themselves for having spent millions in police overtime and travel expenses in order to supervise one of the most peaceful events ever in the history of the city. It would be a toss-up between them and the truckers convoy. I think you could have saved a lot of money and asked the Boy Scouts of Canada to take care of policing the event. It wouldn’t have cost you very much and the boy scouts could have earned a security badge.

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Bob Boyer

RENFREW

(Always be prepared.)

EASY RIDERS ROLL OUT

The easy riders have vacated our beautiful city, leaving behind memories less intense than those from the previous convoy. Although there were hundreds of tickets handed out and numerous vehicles towed, along with the arrests of protesters who are always present to stir up the pot.

It’s obvious that authorities learned their lesson from the first fiasco with the truckers convoy. Relief now for the downtown residents is a gift much deserved. Where the convoy will appear next is questionable, but it will not be in the downtown core of the capital. This encore presentation was unlike the first encounter of unorganized mayhem. An encore of Act 1 was not in the cards. May the remainder of our wonderful seasons return us to the norm we all embrace and enjoy as the city has so much to offer to residents and visitors.

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WAYNE KIRK

PEMBROKE

(Amen to that.)

A ROLLING CROCK

These “Rolling Thunder” people were just looking for a nice ride in the spring weather. I rode a Harley for a number of years when I was a young man, and spring time in Canada was golden. But I do not ever recall riding in a group to offend the government or hard-working health-care personnel like a spoiled child. Whenever you get a group of riders on motorcycles descending on a community where they are not a resident, it is intimidating for the citizens who are trying to live their lives peacefully.

This was not a protest of any significant factor, in my opinion, as restrictions protecting the health of our country — which were paramount when the pandemic struck down thousands of people — are being lifted in a timely manner. Most of those in this so-called protest were of the anarchist variety (unhappy with anything they do not have a say in — trying to vote in our democratic election first) and the rest were followers who just wanted to get their 15 minutes of fame.

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The freedom in our country is well-established so if they wish to have a fundraising ride/parade on behalf of the courageous people of Ukraine for the Red Cross, then great, but why complain when we live in the greatest country in the civilized world — not perfect but pretty damn close. Try living in a dictatorship or police state if you disagree, then let me know when they return seeking protection from the Canadian government, which they all do eventually and then complain about how they are Canadian and entitled to spread hate and dissension about the very country that saves their sorry butt.

DAN O’BRIEN

MIDLAND

(We are still wondering exactly what they were protesting.)