Since late January, downtown Ottawa has served as a parking lot for up to 500 heavy-duty trucks, pickup trucks and other vehicles, operated by individuals who say they are fed up with the social restrictions and vaccine mandates meant to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Some of the vehicles are adorned with Canadian flags, along with signs and slogans demanding their rights under the country’s constitution be restored—among them, the right to decline to get vaccinated for Covid-19—and that rules be abolished requiring vaccination...

Since late January, downtown Ottawa has served as a parking lot for up to 500 heavy-duty trucks, pickup trucks and other vehicles, operated by individuals who say they are fed up with the social restrictions and vaccine mandates meant to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Some of the vehicles are adorned with Canadian flags, along with signs and slogans demanding their rights under the country’s constitution be restored—among them, the right to decline to get vaccinated for Covid-19—and that rules be abolished requiring vaccination to either work, travel or eat at the local pub. The convoy, organized under the Freedom Convoy 2022 banner, has clogged up traffic in the city’s core, forced some businesses to shut their doors, and disrupted residents’ daily lives. Tens of thousands of supporters have gathered near the country’s parliament on consecutive weekends to show their support.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has requested an additional 1,800 law-enforcement officers from the Canadian government to help “quell the insurrection” in the capital. Ottawa’s police force employs 1,200 officers. “We must do everything in our power to take back the streets of Ottawa,” Mr. Watson said in a Feb. 7 letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

What is the Freedom Convoy and why are people protesting in Canada?

Protest organizers are operating under the banner Freedom Convoy 2022. According to a statement posted to their Facebook page, a small team of western Canadian truckers, family members and friends decided in mid-January to launch the protest, with truckers and supporters converging in the capital in a peaceful protest. The group said the number of trucks headed to Ottawa was in the 50,000 range. Police put the current figure at about 500.

The group’s goal is to compel all levels of government in Canada to repeal vaccine mandates—including one that applied to truckers as of Jan. 15—and other social restrictions, such as a ban on unvaccinated people from going to restaurants, bars and gyms. “Freedom is constantly at war with those who want to limit it, and it must be defended,” the statement said.

Protesters in the convoy say they are fed up with the social restrictions and vaccine mandates meant to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Photo: Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/Associated Press

A spokeswoman and fundraiser for the group, Tamara Lich, said demonstrators “would not stay a day longer than necessary. Our departure will be based on the prime minister doing what is right.” Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal government implemented vaccine mandates affecting truckers—both Canada and the U.S. require truckers to be fully vaccinated to enter their countries—and would-be travelers on flights originating in Canada and long-distance passenger rail service.

How are the government and police responding to the protests?

Jim Watson, Ottawa’s mayor, declared a state of emergency in the city, effective Feb 6. The declaration doesn’t give the mayor or police any special powers, such as imposing a curfew. Rather, the move is an administrative step, which allows the city to enter into formal talks with the federal and provincial government for additional help—such as the request for 1,800 more officers.

Ottawa police shifted into a more aggressive mode a week into the protest. As of Feb. 9, Ottawa police said they have made 23 arrests and issued 1,300 fines for violations such as excessive horn honking, public consumption of alcohol, and the use of fireworks. Police have also confiscated thousands of liters of fuel gathered by protesters, and warned of arrests for people trying to enter the main demonstration zone with fuel for trucks.

Ottawa’s mayor has requested additional law-enforcement officers from the Canadian government to respond to the protest.

Photo: LARS HAGBERG/REUTERS

Mr. Trudeau, along with other federal officials, have ruled out both heeding the protesters demands and entering in talks with the group. Mr. Trudeau has referred to the protesters as a “small fringe minority of people” who hold “unacceptable views that do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other” during the pandemic.

Lawyers acting on behalf of an Ottawa resident succeeded this week in persuading a province of Ontario court to issue an order banning truckers from blaring their air horns. That order, issued Feb. 7, is valid for 10 days. Residents say incessant honking has disrupted their sleeping patterns and ability to work from home.

Who is supporting the Freedom Convoy?

Some lawmakers with Canada’s main political opposition, the Conservative Party, have expressed sympathy with the protesters’ cause. “Regardless of political stripe, we all want an end to the demonstrations, and we all want an end to the restrictions,” said Candice Bergen, Conservative interim leader. She’s called on protesters to remain peaceful and denounce any acts of hate. On the first days of the protest, images emerged of Confederate flags and banners with swastikas among the throngs of protesters—earning a stern rebuke from Mr. Trudeau and others.

The group’s goal is to compel all levels of government in Canada to repeal vaccine mandates and other social restrictions.

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Among the truckers’ most vocal supporters is former President Donald Trump. Mr. Trump said in a statement on Feb. 4 that the convoy was “peacefully protesting the harsh policies” put forward by Mr. Trudeau, who he referred to as a “far left lunatic…who has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates.” Mr. Trump added that protesters would be free to communicate with each other on a social media platform he plans to launch.

Sen. Ted Cruz

(R., Texas) tweeted his support for the protesters involved in the convoy on Feb. 6, saying, “They’re defending Canada, America, and they’re standing up for freedom!”

The protest group had raised over $10 million via the crowdfunding website GoFundMe, with proceeds, they said, to be distributed to protesters to cover the cost of fuel to drive to Ottawa and other expenses, such as accommodation and food. On Feb. 4, GoFundMe shut down the organizer’s money-raising drive, adding it would distribute refunds to donors. “We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity,” GoFundMe said in a statement.

Organizers have since shifted to another crowdfunding website, GiveSendGo. As of Feb. 9, the protest group has raised nearly $8 million, with a goal of raising $16 million.

Footage showed trucks in gridlock on the Ambassador Bridge, a key trading link between the U.S. and Canada. It was temporarily closed amid growing protests against Canada’s Covid-19 vaccine mandates. Photo: WXYZ/AP

What is happening on the Ambassador Bridge?

A group of protesters, some saying they were inspired by the demonstration in Ottawa, was able to briefly shut down the Ambassador Bridge, a major trade corridor that connects Detroit with Canada. As of Feb. 8, some traffic from Canada can use the bridge to get to the U.S., whereas U.S. trucks and vehicles are unable to enter Canada via the corridor. Most commercial vehicles are diverting north to the Blue Water Bridge, which crosses the St. Clair River and is roughly about 66 miles north of Detroit.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has estimated that 30% of two-way trade between the U.S. and Canada—about $600 billion annually—is shipped on trucks over that bridge. “If they can stop traffic in Windsor-Detroit, what does this mean for” other key trade corridors, said

Dennis Darby, president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

Another group of truckers has also disrupted traffic at a border crossing between Montana and western Canada.

This article may be updated.

Write to Paul Vieira at Paul.Vieira@wsj.com