Canadian judge orders end to blockade at border bridge

A Canadian judge has ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge over the U.S-Canadian border to end the five-day-old blockade that has disrupted the flow of goods between the two countries.

It was not immediately clear when or if law enforcement officers will be sent in to remove the demonstrators, who parked their pickups and other vehicles in a protest against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions and an outpouring of fury toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government.

Hours after Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency Friday, Trudeau issued a stern warning to protesters, saying, "We’ve heard you. It’s time go home now."

Trudeau said illegal blockades in Ottawa and Windsor, Ontario, Emerson, Manitoba, and Coutts, Alberta are hurting Canadians.

"They’re endangering jobs. There are threats to our economy and to public safety. The people, these blockades are hurting are everyday families: auto assembly workers, farmers, truckers and blue collar Canadians," Trudeau said Friday.

Trudeau said he spoke directly with President Joe Biden about the issue on Friday morning. Trudeau said he and Biden agreed that the blockades cannot continue.

Federal, provincial and local authorities have hesitated to forcibly remove the self-proclaimed Freedom Convoy protesters.