People crossing Veterans Memorial Bridge or driving by Allen Park in Ottawa Monday during the noon hour saw the police presence, but not the protest they were there for. The demonstrators planned to rally in the park against the state closing parks, businesses, and various other services. WCMY News found them in the River Rescue parking lot, deciding what to do after it was clear they couldn’t get into the park.
Police Chief Brent Roalson says police were in place to keep traffic moving and keep people out of a closed park, not to shut down a demonstration. An online message over the weekend encouraged people to jam up traffic on Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Roalson says the demonstrators could have used the Jordan Block. It’s still open and highly visible. And he’s not against them protesting.
Roalson says the demonstrators never contacted police, so he never got to tell them about the alternative. Ultimately, no demonstration happened.