Media Portrayals of Protest Policing and Police-Protester Interactions During the 2022 Freedom Convoy

• In Event: Protest, Policing, and Public Narratives

Abstract

The 2022 Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa, initially a trucker-led movement against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, evolved into a broader opposition to pandemic restrictions and government overreach. Protesters occupied downtown Ottawa for weeks, prompting the first-ever invocation of the Emergencies Act. This study examines media portrayals of protesters and law enforcement through a qualitative thematic multimodal analysis of video content from major Canadian news sources. Findings reveal that media framed the protest as disruptive, portraying protesters negatively while shifting depictions of police from ineffective to necessary enforcers of order. Initially, coverage criticized police inaction but later justified intervention, aligning with law-and-order narratives.These evolving portrayals have significant implications for police legitimacy. Public perceptions of law enforcement are shaped by media narratives, influencing trust and confidence in policing institutions. When police are depicted as ineffective, legitimacy may erode, while portrayals of decisive enforcement can reinforce authority but risk perceptions of excessive force. The study underscores the media’s role in legitimizing state responses to protests, demonstrating how shifts in coverage align with broader societal debates on civil liberties, governance, and public order. These findings contribute to research on protest policing and the complex relationship between media, public opinion, and police legitimacy.

Authors

• Judith P. Andersen, University of Toronto Mississauga

• Lorna Ferguson, University of Regina

• Loridee De Villa, University of Toronto Mississauga

• Laura Huey, University of Western Ontario