Freedom Convoy GoFundMe organizer denied bail due to 'substantial likelihood' to 're-offend,' could face 'lengthy' prison term



In a controversial move Tuesday, a judge in Ottawa, Canada, denied bail for a leading organizer of the Freedom Convoy trucker protests, claiming she presents a "substantial likelihood" to "re-offend."

The decision immediately garnered attention across Canada, as critics noted that even alleged violent offenders, in some cases, are granted bail. Yet Tamara Lich, a 47-year-old mother and activist from Alberta, won't be afforded the option.

Lich was arrested and charged Thursday with counseling to commit mischief after having raised over $10 million through a since-halted GoFundMe campaign sponsoring a groundswell of protests over the national COVID-19 vaccine mandate and other restrictions placed on truckers operating in Canada.

For weeks, thousands of protesters had camped out in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, and along border crossings with the U.S., demanding an end to the restrictions.

In her ruling Tuesday, Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois said she was not convinced that Lich would go home quietly and discontinue her counseling activity if released on bond.

"I cannot be reassured that if I release you into the community that you will not re-offend," Bourgeois said, according to the Ottawa Citizen. "Your detention is necessary for the protection and safety of the public."

"This community has already been impacted enough by some of the criminal activity and blockades you took part in and even led," the judge added, according to CBC. "You have had plenty of opportunity to remove yourself and even others from this criminal activity but obstinately chose not to and persistently counseled others not to either."

"In Canada, every citizen can certainly disagree with and protest against government decisions but it needs to be done in a democratic fashion in abidance with the laws that have been established democratically," Bourgeois concluded.

Lich is scheduled to return to court on March 2. Following the bail denial, Lich's attorney, Diane Magas, said she was preparing a bail review application for her client in hopes it would be considered as soon as next week.

In court on Tuesday, Bourgeois warned that Lich's crimes will likely carry a lengthy prison sentence if a conviction is rendered.

"There is no doubt here on conviction you are certainly facing a potentially lengthy term of imprisonment," she said.

Prior to her arrest, Lich reportedly said she wasn't worried about facing charges since she believed her protest was legal. She also claimed that her bank account was frozen under a sweeping measure known as the Emergencies Act, invoked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week.

Mike Rowe rails on Canadian officials for turning on truckers: They went from 'hero to villain' in the 'course of 2 weeks'



Mike Rowe on Tuesday criticized Canadian government officials for their response to Freedom Convoy truckers amid a national protest over COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

What's the background?

For weeks, thousands of demonstrators have camped in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, and blocked border crossings with the U.S. in protest of the mandate and other coronavirus restrictions placed on truckers crossing the border.

In response to what the Canadian government deemed an "unlawful assembly," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, a measure that grants authorities sweeping power to restrict travel, disperse crowds, arrest demonstrators, and freeze their bank accounts, among other actions considered necessary to stop assembly.

Over the weekend, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson even suggested selling off dozens of vehicles seized during the Freedom Convoy protests to cover the city's costs incurred during the demonstrations.

What are the details?

During an interview with BlazeTV host Glenn Beck on Tuesday, Rowe pointed out how quickly the situation has changed now that some truckers find themselves on the bad end of state directives.

Truckers, once considered essential to the economy during the pandemic, have in short order become enemies of the state, the "Dirty Jobs" star suggested.

As Canadian officials debate auctioning off the Freedom Convoy protesters' trucks, @mikeroweworks gives me his take: "Truckers were the very definition of essentiality. Within the course of 2 weeks, they literally went from heroes to villains."pic.twitter.com/zV3bEJOspI
— Glenn Beck (@Glenn Beck) 1645559878

"You know what strikes me about all of this?" Rowe asked, adding, "And maybe this is somewhat of a silver lining [because] I kind of feel like we're about to close the loop."

"When this started, truckers were right on the leading edge of heroes. They were the very definition of essentiality," he said. "[But] in the course of two weeks, they literally went from hero to villain."

That's how fast things can change in today's chaotic socio-political climate.

Beck noted that protesters have yet to be convicted of crimes or even appear in court. Nevertheless, the government is floating an auctioning off of property.

What else?

The Canadian government responded quickly and harshly to continued protests in Ottawa over the weekend.

Police descended on the crowds, arresting at least 191 protesters and towing at least 76 vehicles since Friday.

In one scene caught on video, police are seen charging on horseback into a crowd of demonstrators and knocking down at least two people, including an elderly woman on a mobility scooter.

One trucker recounted to Fox News host Tucker Carlson the moment that police repeatedly struck him while he was on the ground, complying to orders.

"They drag me in, they lie me down on my belly, and I don’t — I don’t recall how many were on top of me ... I felt like I was beaten, but I took it like a man," the trucker recalled.

"They broke my body a little bit, but not my spirit," he added.

Canadian parents could face fines or jail time for bringing children to ‘unlawful’ Freedom Convoy protests under new emergency powers act



Canadian parents who bring their children to demonstrations the government considers to be "unlawful" can now face thousands of dollars in fines or jail time, CBC News reported.

The new power reportedly comes after the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act this week, granting itself exceptional measures to address the country's ongoing Freedom Convoy trucker protests. It marked the first time the act has been invoked since its passage in 1988.

For more than two weeks now, thousands of demonstrators have been camping in Ottawa, Canada's capital city, in protest of the country's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Elsewhere, protesters have blocked border crossings between the U.S. and Canada, vowing to stay until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lifts vaccine mandates and other coronavirus restrictions on truckers crossing the border.

Under the act, the federal government can restrict travel and prohibit people from bringing minors to any public assemblies that disrupt the movement of people, goods, and trade, or that support the "threat or use of acts of serious violence against persons or property."

Specifically, the act allows government authorities to administer fines of up to $5,000 or five years jail time for those who bring children under the age of 18 to participate in the assembly and the same penalties for anyone who participates in the blockades or brings aid — such as food or fuel — to people involved, CBC noted.

Banks and insurance companies have also been granted the authority to freeze participants' accounts and cancel their vehicle insurance.

In a notice issued Wednesday, Ottowa police told protesters, "You must leave the area now. Anyone blocking streets, or assisting others in the blocking streets, are committing a criminal offence and you may be arrested."

"You must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you will face charges," the notice added.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino similarly commented, "To those who may be thinking to come to Ottawa this weekend — don't. At best, the residents of the city have made it clear that this is not the time. And at worst, you may be tying yourself to dangerous criminal activity."

While announcing the invocation of the Emergencies Act on Monday, Trudeau noted that the military would not be called in to disperse the crowds but said the nation's police would be granted greater power to impose fines and imprisonment on those engaging in "illegal and dangerous activities."

"This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people's jobs, and restoring confidence in our institutions," he said.

As MASSIVE truck convoy against vax mandates approaches, Canadian PM Trudeau goes into self-isolation due to COVID exposure




A massive convoy of an estimated 35,000 to 50,000 truckers protesting against vaccine mandates is currently making its way across Canada, with cheering crowds lining the streets and filling up overpasses along the way. According to Guinness World Records, the "Freedom Convoy," which kicked off in British Columbia and plans to arrive in the Canadian capital Ottowa by Saturday, may be the longest truck convoy ever recorded. So, why isn't this potentially record-breaking protest getting more coverage in the media?

That's what journalist and radio host Kim Iversen wanted to know on a recent episode of The Hill's "Rising."

"The various anti-mandate protests around the world have been getting little to no coverage, even though thousands upon thousands have been taking to the streets," Iverson began.

"What's interesting about this convoy [in Canada] is it's getting hardly any coverage at all inside of Canada, or really anywhere. It's a near media blackout, which oddly seems to be the same thing happening in Europe and even here in the United States, in regards to all of the other protests," Iverson said.

"There's been some interesting and even eyebrow-raising opposition to the convoy," she continued. "There's the obvious and blatant media blackout. Some could say the reason the media isn't covering it is because it's small and fringe, but social media users are showing crowds gathered on the streets in nearly every town the truckers roll through, and on many of the overpasses in the towns that the truckers pass. Also, the convoy has raised over 5 million dollars through GoFundMe, and I'd say this is not small or fringe ... definitely not as small or fringe as the government wants it to be."

Iverson went on to point out that "of course there's those looking to demonize and discredit the protest by claiming those who are participating are 'alt-right' or 'anti-vaxxers'. Gerald Butts, the former principal secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, called the group 'separatists.' So now people on social media are equating the group to terrorists, which seems to be where we're at these days. Anyone protesting anything at all, be it police brutality, masking kids, election outcomes, or vaccine mandates, is now a radical terrorist in some form."

Iverson called out Prime Minister Trudeau by sharing a tweet from Trudeau in March, 2020, that has not aged well.


While many of us are working from home, there are others who aren\u2019t able to do that - like the truck drivers who are working day and night to make sure our shelves are stocked. So when you can, please #ThankATrucker for everything they\u2019re doing and help them however you can.
— Justin Trudeau (@Justin Trudeau) 1585699286

Trudeau said in a tweet that he will be "isolating for five days" after learning that he was exposed to someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. Though his rapid test came back negative, Ottawa Health rules apparently require that the prime minister will be in isolation throughout the weekend, when the trucker convoy is scheduled to arrive in Ottawa.

Last night, I learned that I have been exposed to COVID-19. My rapid test result was negative. I am following @OttawaHealth rules and isolating for five days. I feel fine and will be working from home. Stay safe, everyone \u2013 and please get vaccinated.
— Justin Trudeau (@Justin Trudeau) 1643292883