U.S.-Canada border crossing blockaded by protesters reopens

The big picture: Demonstrations began last month in Ottawa against a U.S. COVID-19 vaccine requirement for cross-border truck drivers, but they have since expanded into a wider movement protesting the country's government and other issues.

• The protests on Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, disrupted supply chains and halted production at nearby auto factories. A judge last Friday granted law enforcement more powers to remove protesters from the bridge.

What's happening: Windsor Police Sgt. Steve Betteridge told reporters ahead of the bridge reopening that officers had arrested some 12 people Sunday and moved to dispel the remains of the demonstration.

• "Of those 12 arrests, there was no violence involved, no violence from the protesters and the officers did not have to use force," Betteridge said.
• Windsor Police said in a statement Sunday that "several" people had been arrested on charges of "mischief" and a number of vehicles seized.

Meanwhile, Ottawa officials said "back-channel negotiations" had begun with protest leaders to remove the convoy of trucks and other vehicles from residential areas, per the NYT.

Worth noting: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to their Canadian counterparts Sunday morning about ending the blockades, White House Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall said in a statement.

Go deeper: Canadian police set up hate crime hotline over pandemic protest violence

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.