Belgium deployed federal police to its borders and conducted checks of vehicles bound for Brussels ahead of a planned European version of a Freedom Convoy on Monday, but various protests popped up around the city anyways, resulting in 15 to 20 arrests and some weapons seizures.
Dozens of vehicles decorated with flags and political banners found themselves escorted from the highway to the Brussels Expo centre, which was designated as a place to hold a static demonstration. But one protestor explained to The Brussels Times that “you won’t see my French friends here— they were smarter.”
Would-be participants are warning one another via encrypted messaging apps to gain entry to the Belgian capital more discreetly by hiding protest materials and pretending to be tourists. And while Monday’s demonstration was regarded by some as a failure, failing to cause anywhere near the disruption as that elsewhere (notably that in Canada which inspired the movement), others say this is only the beginning.
Freedom Convoy demonstrators in it for the long-haul
Many of the protesters herded into the Expo Centre are prepared to protest for quite some time, and have come in campervans with tents and supplies of food.
“The Lorry drivers want to stay longer, and they’re better equipped,” said one protestor, who explained that she would stay as long as possible but would eventually need to return to a job in Germany.
Photo by Helen Lyons/The Brussels Times.
Police were at the centre taking down licence plate numbers and speaking to a few of the demonstrators. One officer told The Brussels Times that while the crowd was small, they expected it to grow in the evening and over the next few days.
“Thousands of cars are still arriving from Paris,” one woman told Bruzz, with another adding that “there are still 1,300 cars in Lille, ready to go.”
Tightened border control, closed lanes, and police checks on Brussels Ring Road
Using vehicles to blockade the streets is strictly prohibited, so many protesters went into the city by foot or via metro. Between 100 and 200 people gathered at the Quai au Bois à brûler and the Quai aux Briques, near the Place Sainte-Catherine, chanting “liberté” and waving flags from other countries, like France and Germany.
In the centre of Brussels, police officers arrested several people for carrying prohibited items, such as gas canisters and knives, but the day was largely without confrontation.
Vandaag namen we deze voorwerpen in beslag. Deze horen niet thuis op een vreedzame betoging. We blijven waakzaam op het hele grondgebied.#demonstration #Brussels pic.twitter.com/pR2fBFZBq7
— PolBru (@zpz_polbru) February 14, 2022
Translation: Today we confiscated these objects. They do not belong in a peaceful demonstration. We will remain vigilant throughout the territory.
Cinquantenaire Park was another rallying point and around 100 demonstrators were reportedly in the area between the park and the Schuman district, according to Belga News Agency.
But riot police were effective in herding protesters into smaller groups, separating them from one another and keeping them from progressing further into the city centre.
“We had some administrative arrests, notably for carrying prohibited material,” the Mayor of the City of Brussels, Philippe Close, told RTL.
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“The vast majority were calm and the arrangements worked well because we have not had any problem with the capital being invaded. We were announcing a great chaos, so I really thank both the federal police and the different police zones for having worked.”
Nevertheless, Close said authorities would remain vigilant: “The day is not over, we must remain vigilant and we were right to act because we discouraged this demonstration which, as you have seen in other countries, sometimes degenerated.”
Photo by Helen Lyons/The Brussels Times.
France bans demonstration near European Parliament in Strasbourg
France is taking a similar approach to rumours of plans for a Freedom Convoy to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, promising heavy penalties for those who violate a ban on any demonstration.
“My main concern is to protect the parliamentary session, which should take place until Thursday evening,” said Josiane Chevalier, the prefect of Lower Rhine who issued the ban, De Standaard reports.
That ban will last until then, and organisers of prohibited demonstrations risk six months in prison and a fine of €7,500.
