Durham Regional Police (DRPS) is “looking into” a video circulating on social media of one of its members allegedly supporting the convoy of truckers driving across the country in protest of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers.
In a statement posted to social media Monday afternoon, the force said it is aware of the circulating video.
“The views expressed in that video do not reflect the views and opinions of DRPS,” the statement reads. “We are currently looking into this matter.”
A woman who identified herself as Const. Erin Howard, posted a video to Twitter on Monday, while wearing a police uniform.
In the video, she said she wanted to “give a shout out to all the truckers,” saying they are “fighting for our rights and freedoms.”
“Right now it feels like we’re a little bit at war and those rights and freedoms are at stake,” she can be heard saying in the video. “So you guys are honestly true heroes. What you’re doing is just incredible.”
Global News reached out to DRPS to confirm whether this is the video in question, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
On Sunday, hundreds of truck drivers began driving from British Columbia to Ottawa to protest the vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers, which went into effect on Jan. 15. The protest has been called the “Freedom Convoy” or “Freedom Rally.”
Cross-border truckers have to show proof of vaccination to get into the U.S.
In a statement released Saturday, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) said it “does not support and strongly disapproves of any protests on public roadways, highways, and bridges.”
“CTA believes such actions – especially those that interfere with public safety – are not how disagreements with government policies should be expressed,” the statement reads.
The CTA said industry members who want to publicly express displeasure over government policies can “choose to hold an organized, lawful event on Parliament Hill or contact their local MP.”
“What is not acceptable is disrupting the motoring public on highways and commerce at the border,” the association said.
CTA President Stephen Laskowski said the industry must “adapt and comply with this mandate.”
“The only way to cross the border, in a commercial truck or any other vehicle, is to get vaccinated,” he said.
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