BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - A group of nearly 20 protesters sought to get the attention of President Joe Biden by demonstrating on the Peace Bridge in response to the ongoing northern border closure.
"We are protesting to get the American land border opened after 16 months of closure," Marcella Picone, whose fiancé lives in Canada, said. "I appreciate all the elected officials stepping up to bring awareness that the land border has been closed. Unfortunately, nobody has brought us over the finish line."
The border has been closed since last March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Frustrations continue for those with loved ones in Canada and property owners who have been unable to visit their homes due to the closure. The border closure has been for one month at a time, though the closure has been extended every month. The current closure will stay in effect until at least July 21.
Officials in the United States have long-sought for the border to reopen due to the number of people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. In New York, 71% of the population has received at least one dose. In Canada, more than 64% of the population has received at least one dose. However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants 75% of the population to have one dose of the vaccine and 25% to be fully vaccinated before border restrictions are loosened.
Picone's frustration lies, in part, because the United States could unilaterally open its border.
"Step out of the White House," Picone said. "Address us as families. Address us as business owners...let us know why you are listening to the Prime Minister of Canada and you're not listening to your own cabinet when they told you to open the land border. Who's running the country, President (Biden)? Is it the American citizens? Is it congressmen? Is it the Prime Minister? That border should have been opened today and it's not, which leads us to believe the Prime Minister is running this country."
Tuesday's protest saw the demonstrators walk to the flags that separate the two countries. Once the group reached the border, they unveiled a sign that called the border "The New Berlin Wall" before returning to the US side.
Canadian officials are planning for a phased approach for crossing the border, though many of the current hurdles to cross the border, such as taking multiple COVID-19 tests and quarantining for weeks, has made travel impractical. Some people who were protesting said they took multiple international flights to visit loved ones and spent hundreds of dollars in the process. In normal circumstances, they could simply drive their car over the border.
