Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lashed out at a “mob” of protesters who pelted him with gravel in London, Ontario, the day before, saying, “It is absolutely unacceptable that people be throwing things and endangering others at a political rally.”
During a campaign stop in London on Monday ahead of the Sept. 20 election, Trudeau and some journalists were hit with gravel by what he described as “anti-vax mobs” as they boarded a bus. The prime minister has faced increased hostility at some campaign stops from opponents of local and federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
“There were volunteers and supporters, there were police officers there to keep everyone safe, there were journalists, such as yourselves, doing a really important job informing Canadians of what’s going on in this election, some of the tensions that are out there,” Trudeau added on Tuesday.
TRUDEAU: CANADIANS WHO PROTESTED HIM ARE ‘RACIST,’ ‘MISOGYNISTIC,’ ‘ANTI-VAXXER MOBS’
Justin Trudeau was pelted with gravel by angry protesters while campaigning in London, Ontario. He was not injured & spoke with journalists afterward. pic.twitter.com/yCDtA43uID
— Andy Ngô ?️? (@MrAndyNgo) September 7, 2021
The prime minister compared the gravel-tossing incident to other acts of hostility that he claimed healthcare workers and individuals in the public sphere face throughout the country.
“There are healthcare workers across the country who are getting hassled and intimidated and bullied as they’re going into work to keep people safe and alive,” Trudeau said. “There are store clerks and waitresses, people going about their daily lives, getting yelled at and pushed around for wearing masks, for being vaccinated.”
Local authorities said they were investigating the assault on Trudeau and other people in the crowd.
“London Police are aware of an incident which occurred on September 6 during a visit to London by Prime Minister Trudeau as well as other elected officials, in which rocks were thrown, striking some participants. LPS has commenced an investigation into this matter,” a spokesperson told Global News.
Trudeau pledged in August that he would commit $1 billion to create a proof-of-vaccination fund if his party is reinstated on Sept. 20, giving cash to provinces that enforce vaccine passports.
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Trudeau’s opponent in the campaign, Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, has not mandated that Conservative candidates be vaccinated and has called for more reasonable accommodations for unvaccinated populations, such as rapid COVID-19 testing and social distancing.
