A little over a year ago, thousands of people descended on Ottawa protesting COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures as part of a “freedom convoy.”
They contested the science around vaccines, chanted and held signs condemning the Trudeau government. A key theme of the protest movement was anger directed toward the government, scientists and even ordinary people following public health recommendations.
During periods of social, political and economic crisis, blame functions as a particularly powerful emotion. It helps people and groups make sense of uncertainty, place fault or, in some cases, provide help.
