text: Domestic SITREP: U.S. TRUCKER PROTESTS AND COUNTER PROTESTSVaccine, masks, and lockdown mandates in France, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel have seen opposition by protestors like trucker protests in Canada. The rising trucking protest movement has some U.S. officials concerned due to the effectiveness of protests and limited ability for the government to mitigate the impact of demonstrations. Over the weekend, police cleared protestors off the Ambassador Bridge, which linked Ontario to Detroit. The blockage caused supply chain disruptions for major manufacturers which led President Biden to pressure Canada to use federal power to end the blockage. The U.S. is also looking to use its federal powers for protest disruptions domestically by increasing manpower, as seen when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent 500 extra personnel to prevent a possible disruption of the Super Bowl. Additional tactics employed by the “Freedom Convoy” opposition is to disrupt their funding. Reports regarding GoFundMe pausing the fundraising accounts of protestors and Canadian court freezing accounts on GiveSendGo have pushed movement members to shift to decentralized means. Even Toronto-Dominion (TD) Bank froze two personal accounts involved with fundraising efforts. This trend culminated into yesterday’s announcement to broadening the scope of the Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act to include regulation of crowdfunding platforms and crypto currency. The Canadian government also announced that it would freeze corporate accounts and revoke the insurance for truck drivers and vehicles used in these blockades. The Ontario government has also announced severe fines of up to $100,000, imprisonment up to 1 year, and potential revoking of commercial and personal drivers licenses for non-compliance to stop blockades. The rising momentum of trucking protests has also brought a counter movement with it. Counter protestors were seen organizing against Freedom Convoy members in Ottawa by blocking vehicles trying to enter the center of the city. Canadian law enforcement had little support from both sides as they moved to calm down the confrontation between the two groups. Support for counter protestors in the U.S. are growing along perceived partisan lines with former officials calling for police to use tactics, such as tire slashing and aggressive arrests, against truck protesters. Additionally, “foreign interference” concerns have circulated social media after the GiveSendGo hack and leaked information on truck protest donors. The number spread on social media highlights over 55% of donations have come from the Americans with only 39% are shown to come from Canadians. This disclosure has contributed to the counter protest narrative that right-wing foreign influence is the cause for their disruptions.The U.S. trucker convoy movement is still set to arrive at Washington D.C. on March 1, 2022. Protesters have discussed whether the movement will enter the city or blockade major roadways surrounding the city. The supporters are set to move across the nation from California to Washington D.C. for the next two weeks. If indicators of an unusually high number of trucks moving east grow, expect to see similar law enforcement and national guard activations much like the reaction after January 6, 2021.Recommendation:If you live in or around the Washington D.C. area, look for alternative means to navigate in and out of the city. Additionally, look for store locations that have your needed items that are accessible from your location if protest blockages around the city were to occur. Having a means to dampen loud noises will also be helpful if you end up in the vicinity of these events, as truck protests are known for prolonged honking. Expect the U.S. federal response to use similar tactics from financial disruptions and arrests with severe penalties. – D.F.LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT INTSUMFar Left Activity Rollup & OutlookPACIFICPortland, OregonSize: 5+