Protestors now blocking traffic at Emerson, Manitoba border crossing

A convoy of vehicles and farm equipment has blocked traffic at the Emerson, Manitoba border crossing, causing lengthy delays.

On Thursday morning, people trying to cross the US/Canada border in Emerson, Manitoba were met by a convoy of vehicles and farm equipment blocking their path.

The border crossing was shut down, as protestors who had gathered the previous night continued to speak out against Canada's ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Manitoba RCMP released a statement via Twitter.

"A demonstration involving a large number of vehicles & farm equipment is blocking the Emerson Port of Entry," they said. "No traffic is getting through either northbound or southbound. The Port of Entry is shut down. Please avoid the area."

RCMP spokesperson, Sgt. Paul Manaigre, told Global News that the blockade is technically illegal according to the Highway Traffic Act, but that, "Handing out 50 tickets doesn’t solve your problem." He argued instead that, "We’re going to have to open up a dialogue."

"They want to make a statement, we have a right to let them make that statement," Manaigre said, "but at some point that discussion needs to lead to some progress at some point." He added that protestors are "not helping themselves if they’re preventing other truckers from working."

Emerson is the latest border crossing to be jammed by protestors of the "Freedom Convoy," which has taken shape across the nation in recent weeks.

Many, especially in Ottawa, say they have no intention of letting up, and will remain until governments start doing away with COVID-19 restrictions.