The Okanagan Slow Roll Convoy protest in Kelowna, Jan. 29, 2022.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
January 29, 2022 - 10:24 AM
Hundreds of Okanagan residents are protesting COVID-19 restrictions as part of a trucker convoy driving through the Interior today.
The Okanagan Slow Roll Convoy – an event shared to the Unify Vernon Facebook group – was scheduled to meet this morning, Jan. 29, at 9:30 a.m. in Vernon and make their way to the U.S. border in Osoyoos by 3:15 p.m.
In Kelowna, hundreds of vehicles drove along Highway 97 and downtown Kelowna, waving Canadian flags as part of the protest. One SUV also had a Confederate flag with the words "Redneck" posted on the front of the vehicle. Protests against COVID-19 vaccines and provincial health orders have been ongoing in the city since the beginning of the pandemic. A protest was also reported in Kamloops.
Many had signs that said "f*** Trudeau."
READ MORE: Once opponents, these two Kelowna politicians are together on ending vaccine mandates
In Summerland, a few small crowds could be seen along Highway 97 cheering for the truckers when they rolled through at around 12:30 p.m. Some pickups were clearly part of the protest because they were waving Canadian flags and slogans, but it was difficult to distinguish most of the vehicles from regular traffic.
“The time has come to end all unlawful mandates and restore our freedoms back to their rightful place,” a poster for the convoy reads.
“We will be making our way from Vernon to Osoyoos and parking along the highway by the border waving our flags and holding our signs.”
The Okanagan Slow Roll Convoy protest in Kelowna, Jan. 29, 2022.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
Today’s slow roll is in support of the larger trucker protest going on, which involved a big road trip across Canada and upwards of 10,000 people who are expected to demonstrate in Ottawa this weekend.
The protest was originally sparked by a mandate requiring all truckers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to travel across the Canada-U.S. border. It has since evolved into a protest against all pandemic restrictions.
READ MORE: Truckers heading to Ottawa from B.C. as part of 'Freedom Convoy' against vaccine mandates
Similar protests popped up last weekend in Kamloops and Salmon Arm.
The "Freedom Convoy" protest is drawing polarized views. It has been condemned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and those involved were referred to as a fringe minority that holds unacceptable views by Prime Minister Trudeau.
Some people supporting the protests are Elon Musk, the wealthiest person in the world, and Joe Rogan, the podcast host with the largest audience in the world.
The Okanagan Slow Roll Convoy protest in Kelowna, Jan. 29, 2022.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
- This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. to include photos and give an estimate of the number of protestors.
- This story was updated at 12:55 p.m. after the convoy rolled through Summerland.
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