Ottawa police were found patrolling more and more empty streets in the city center on Sunday as the “Rolling Thunder” demonstration carried out plans to evacuate the Canadian capital, but the force opened an investigation after the scene of the only official event of the day. deformed with graffiti targeting protesters.
In contrast to February, when crowds of protesters opposed to public health measures for COVID-19 and the federal government drowned the streets of Ottawa for weeks, few traces of this weekend rallies remained on Sunday afternoon.
Nearly a dozen people marched outside Parliament after a Sunday morning service at the nearby Capital City Bikers’ Church, the last scheduled rally event over the weekend.
The event attracted hundreds of worshipers as police launched an investigation into alleged vandalism that took place before the rally.
Cyclists, Rolling Thunder supporters and other worshipers arrived at the church to find that its exterior brick had been vandalized with spray-painted messages such as “fascists” and “there is no refuge for fascism”.
The Ottawa Police Department has confirmed that it is investigating “an incident of hate-motivated abuse at a religious institution” on Carillon Street, where the church is located.
But the incident did nothing to stifle the spirits of the enthusiastic, peaceful crowd.
A four-member band released lively Christian rock songs as hundreds of worshipers, some wearing Canadian-made leather cycling jackets draped over their shoulders, waved their hands in the air.
Families, children and even dogs filled the dark building as purple flood lights and a stained glass image of Jesus from the outside sun lit up the stage inside.  A bar at the back of Pentecostal church was selling soft drinks, snacks and coffee, and a shop was selling Biker Church T-shirts.
You start talking about hell and – “Oh, you’re one of those religious fanatics, aren’t you?”  Pastor Rob McKee asked the crowd during his sermon about how hell exists.  His long, gray beard spilled over his plaid button-down shirt, which he wore with baggy jeans.  “We all love the part that God is love, so if I were the enemy I would work very hard to get people to believe, no, this is a scam, this is fake news.”
McKee seemed to silence the graffiti and described the day as “church as usual,” but others who attended the service were more upset.
“It’s extremely offensive,” said Kimberly McGrath.  “I had to let it come off my shoulders, but for many people it is traumatic and painful.  It reminds us of what we have been through and describes us as racist, half-hearted and anti-science. “
Attendees pulled hot dogs and socialized in the parking lot as soon as the service was over.  Most voiced their intention to leave Ottawa, although some said they planned to protest in Montreal or return to Parliament Hill.
Sunday morning’s service marked the last weekend of the Rolling Thunder Rally, organized in part by a group called Freedom Fighters Canada.
Participants began arriving in Ottawa on Friday afternoon, bringing large crowds to a downtown area still at the forefront following the three-week siege of Freedom Convoy in February.
Rolling Thunder organizers say the rally was organized to oppose COVID-19 vaccine orders, but as of February, some protesters had a longer list of complaints.
Randy Hill from Penticton, BC, arrived at the church service with a red pickup decorated with Canadian flags and a “do not be afraid” sticker on the side.  He said he and his wife Carol-Anne are opposed to all vaccine orders and government measures and intend to stay in place.
“We want this government to be removed from God and a just government to be created.  “Those in charge of this government are accountable to God,” he said.
Among the last protesters to stay in Ottawa was Misty Brown, who had traveled for four weeks from Vancouver Island and arrived on Friday night.
Unlike many at this weekend’s protest, Brown did not take part in the February demonstrations, but rallied bicycles to express her opposition to vaccination orders.
“My daughter had to be vaccinated just to be able to keep her job.  “He did not want to, but he had to pay the bills,” Brown said.  “It’s our body and we should have the right to choose.”
A heavier-than-normal police presence remained around Parliament Hill, with police patrolling the streets in pairs and city police issuing car tickets.
But otherwise it was business as usual on a sunny afternoon, with tourists exploring the area on foot or by bicycle.
The peaceful abolition came after residents had expressed concern that the protests would last for weeks as well as in winter.  Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell had previously stated that this would not be allowed to happen and hundreds of reinforcements from the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and other municipal forces were deployed to reinforce local order.
Ottawa police made several arrests over the weekend, including three during the main demonstrations on Saturday.
The force said a woman was arrested for an attack on police on Elgin Street, where a large rally of motorcycles took place, and a man was arrested for violating the conditions resulting from the occupation of February at Freedom Convoy.
Another man faces multiple charges after allegedly “raping” an OPP motorcycle, including dangerous riding, assault with a firearm and breach of contract in the last round of protests.
More than 760 parking tickets have been issued and 39 vehicles have been towed since early Friday morning, city officials said on Sunday.  Ten other tickets have been issued for offenses, including noise, smoking and public urination.
– With records from Sarah Smellie at St.  John’s
This Canadian Press report was first published on May 1, 2022.