U.S.-Canada bridge reopens but protests persist in Ottawa

U.S.-Canada bridge reopens but protests persist in Ottawa

Transcript¹

The key U.S.-Canada border crossing is open after protests against COVID-19 restrictions² closed it for almost a week. But, protesters in trucks remain in the center of the Canadian capital of Ottawa.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

This morning, the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing is open again. Canadian police cleared protesters who had been blocking a key bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor. They were demonstrating against COVID-19 restrictions. However, protesters in trucks, RVs and pickups remain in the center of the Canadian capital of Ottawa. Emma Jacobs joins us from Montreal this morning with the latest. Good morning.

EMMA JACOBS, BYLINE³: Good morning.

FADEL: So Emma, how was Ambassador Bridge cleared? What happened?

JACOBS: Just for some context first, the Ambassador Bridge carries a quarter of trade between the U.S. and Canada. It's the route a lot of food takes from the U.S. into Ontario. Auto⁴ parts get carted back and forth⁵ between assembly plants in Ontario and Michigan. This blockade had become so disruptive to those automakers, a number of plants canceled shifts and sent workers home. Saturday morning, large numbers of police arrived just after 8. A lot of the demonstrators in vehicles left early on. But a couple hundred people on foot, including children, remained all day. Then finally, by Sunday morning, their numbers had fallen to just a few dozen people. And that was when large numbers of police moved in again to definitively⁶ clear the roadway. City of Windsor police said they made more than two-dozen arrests and towed around 10 vehicles. The bridge reopened yesterday evening. Windsor Police Chief Pamela Mizuno said the bridge would not be closed again.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PAMELA MIZUNO: Any unlawful activity in the area will not be tolerated. And officers will take the necessary action to keep the peace and traffic flowing. There will be criminal consequences for those who interfere⁷ with or interrupt traffic flow.

FADEL: OK. So that's what happened in Windsor, right across the bridge from Detroit. But today, you're headed back to Ottawa, which is about 6 1/2 hours north of there, where there are still protesters.

JACOBS: Yeah. In Ottawa, this is the beginning of a third week of these noisy protests. A couple hundred big rigs and other vehicles have been parked downtown, surrounding parliament. On the weekends, they've been joined by thousands of people. And the nights have been much louder. On Friday night, the demonstrators put up a stage for a concert. Residents have complained about the noise and about aggressive behavior of some demonstrators, and have expressed frustration⁸ and anger that police have not enforced the law.

FADEL: So are they doing anything themselves?

JACOBS: This weekend, we saw a shift. There were larger counter-demonstrations⁹ by Ottawa residents. A number of people had signs saying, make Ottawa boring again...

FADEL: (Laughter).

JACOBS: ...Which the capital is sort of known for. On Sunday, a group of Ottawa residents blocked more convoy¹⁰ vehicles that were headed downtown. The Ottawa Citizen reported this was started by a dog-walking group. But hundreds of people joined over the course of the day. Things became tense. And those vehicles were escorted away from the crowd. At the same time, we learned the mayor agreed to meet with the demonstrators if they move vehicles away from residences and closer to government buildings. One key leader of the convoy indicated they may comply.

FADEL: So does that - is that a sign of progress? Does that mean, maybe, we will see an end to this?

JACOBS: It's a negotiated de-escalation, yes. However, a lot of the participants in these demonstrations have said they will not go home until all public health mandates¹¹ are lifted. And some seem very intent on seeing this all the way through. So it is a tense moment. And it's not at all clear how this will resolve itself.

FADEL: Emma Jacobs in Montreal, thank you for all your reporting on this. And I'm sure we'll check back with you again soon.

JACOBS: Talk with you soon.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

5 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

6 definitively   

adv.决定性地，最后地

参考例句：

• None of the three super-states could be definitively conquered even by the other two in combination. 三个超级国家中的任何一国都不可能被任何两国的联盟所绝对打败。 来自英汉文学
• Therefore, nothing can ever be definitively proved with a photograph. 因此，没有什么可以明确了一张照片。 来自互联网

7 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

8 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

9 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

10 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

11 mandates   

托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Individual mandates would require all people to purchase health insurance. 个人托管要求所有人都要购买健康保险。
• While I agree with those benefits, I'm not a supporter of mandates. 我同意上述好处，我不是授权软件的支持者。