Ottawa biker church vandalized as Rolling Thunder rally enters third day

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OTTAWA — A whole lot of individuals packed an Ottawa church on Sunday morning to mark the ultimate schedule occasion of the weekend-long “Rolling Thunder” protest as police launched an investigation into vandalism that allegedly came about forward of the gathering.

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Bikers, “Rolling Thunder” rally supporters and different worshippers arrived on the Capital Metropolis Bikers’ Church to search out its brick exterior had been vandalized with spray-painted messages together with “fascists” and “no haven for fascism.”

The Ottawa Police Service confirmed its hate crime unit is investigating “an incident of hate-motivated Mischief at a non secular establishment” on on Carillon Road, the identical one the place the church is situated.

However the incident did little to suppress the spirits of the enthusiastic, peaceable crowd.

A four-piece band belted out soulful Christian rock songs whereas tons of of worshipers waved their arms within the air.

Households, youngsters and even pets packed the darkened constructing, as purple flood lights and a stained-glass picture of Jesus illuminated by the skin solar lit up the stage inside. A bar behind the Pentecostal church offered gentle drinks, snacks and occasional.

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“You start to speak about hell and — ‘Oh, you’re a kind of spiritual fanatics, aren’t you?”’ Pastor Rob McKee requested the group throughout his sermon. His lengthy, gray beard spilled onto his button-up plaid shirt, which he wore with a pair of loose-fitting denims. “All of us love the half that God is love, so if I used to be the enemy I’d work actually onerous to attempt to get folks to consider, no, that’s a rip-off, that’s pretend information.”

McKee appeared to shrug off the graffiti and described the day as “church as traditional,” however others who attended the service have been extra upset.

““ it’s extraordinarily insulting,” mentioned Kimberly McGrath. “I needed to let it brush off my shoulders however for lots of people it’s traumatizing and it’s hurtful.”

Attendees socialized within the parking zone as soon as the service wrapped up. Most expressed their intentions to go away Ottawa, although some indicated they deliberate to maneuver on to a possible protest in Montreal or return to Parliament Hill.

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The Sunday morning service was mentioned to be the final occasion within the weekend-long “Rolling Thunder” rally, organized partly by a bunch referred to as Freedom Fighters Canada.

Members started arriving in Ottawa Friday afternoon, bringing giant crowds to a downtown core nonetheless on edge after the three-week-long “Freedom Convoy” occupation in February.

“Rolling Thunder” organizers say the rally was set as much as oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates, however as in February, some demonstrators had an extended listing of grievances.

Randy Hill from Penticton, B.C., arrived on the church service in a purple pickup decked out with Canadian flags and a “religion not worry” sticker on the facet. He mentioned he and his spouse Carol-Anne are against all vaccine mandates and authorities measures and intend to remain put.

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“We wish this authorities eliminated by God and a righteous authorities put in place. The folks accountable for this authorities are accountable to God,” he mentioned.

The Ottawa Police Service arrested three folks on Saturday, although the day’s protests remained largely peaceable. Crowds took half in a ceremony on the Struggle Memorial within the morning adopted by a bike drive-by and a day demonstration on Parliament Hill.

The drive mentioned one girl was arrested for assaulting police on Elgin Road, the place the bike rally came about, and a person was arrested for breaching situations stemming from February’s “Freedom Convoy” occupation.

One other man is going through a number of fees after allegedly “speeding” an Ontario Provincial Police bike, together with harmful driving, assault with a weapon and violating situations stemming from the final spherical of protests, the Ottawa Police Service mentioned in a information launch.

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Ottawa police have referred to as in backup from RCMP, OPP and plenty of municipal forces. Greater than 760 parking tickets had been issued and 39 automobiles have been towed since early Friday morning, metropolis officers mentioned Sunday. Ten different tickets have been issued for infractions together with noise, smoking and public urination.

Steve Bell, interim chief of the Ottawa Police Service, has warned the protesters they won’t be allowed to begin a long-term occupation this time. However some residents, together with Centreville Group Affiliation president Mary Huang, say the true check will probably be in seeing whether or not folks truly go away town on Sunday afternoon.