Key Freedom Convoy leaders arrested as police establish 100 checkpoints in Ottawa to clamp down on trucker protest
Key leaders of the Freedom Convoy were arrested on Thursday by police in Ottawa. Tamara Lich and Chris Barber – prominent organizers of the Canadian trucker protest – were seen being taken into custody by police.
According to the Ottawa Police, Barber was charged with counseling to commit the offense of mischief, counseling to commit the offense of disobey court order (s. 127), and counseling to commit the offense of obstruct police. Lich has been charged with counseling to commit the offense of mischief.
Barber – one of the leaders of the Freedom Convoy and a truck driver from Saskatchewan – was seen on video being arrested in Ottawa.
BREAKING: Freedom Convoy protest organizer Chris Barber got arrested in Ottawa as he was walking down the street. \n\nhttp://ConvoyReports.com\u00a0pic.twitter.com/6Itq8ypRKR— Yanky \ud83d\udc0a \ud83d\ude9a\ud83d\ude9b\ud83d\ude9c (@Yanky \ud83d\udc0a \ud83d\ude9a\ud83d\ude9b\ud83d\ude9c) 1645139730
Video shows Lich being arrested without incident. As she is being taken into custody, Lich tells the other protesters, "Hold the line!"
Tamara Lich has been arrested, but we will continue to #holdthelinepic.twitter.com/GaPZdsrhVe— FreedomConvoy2022 (@FreedomConvoy2022) 1645150171
Both Barber and Lich understood that they were at risk of being arrested for participating in the protest against vaccine mandates.
On Tuesday, Barber said, "We'll follow any direction of law enforcement. We've said it right from day one: If you're confronted by a police officer and the handcuffs come out, put your hands behind your back. Take it like a man. I've never been arrested by police. I've never had handcuffs on … If that comes, I'll be the first guy to get arrested."
An emotional Lich shared a video on Wednesday night, where she acknowledged that she would be taken to jail, but said she was "okay with that."
"I want you to know that I'm not afraid," Lich said in the video posted to social media.
"Just please stay peaceful and take care of each other," Lich tells the other Freedom Convoy protesters. "And know this too will pass."
"And there will be a tomorrow, and we will get through this," Lich said. "The only way this is going to succeed is if we always come from a place of love."
"I pray and I hope that you make your choices from love," she continued. "You have to know that they're trying to provoke us."
Lich – who launched the GoFundMe campaign that raised over $10 million for the Freedom Convoy before the crowdfunding website shut it down – also claimed that her personal bank account had been frozen.
The head of the Freedom Convoy, @Tamara_MVC, is preparing to be arrested. "I think it is inevitable. I want you to know that I am not afraid. Stay peaceful, and please take care of each other." \nIf Canada is ever governed by a non-tyrant, Tamara deserves the Order of Canada.pic.twitter.com/5Dzoe0gwcg— Keean Bexte (@Keean Bexte) 1645118411
True North journalist Andrew Lawton said, "All of the demonstrators I spoke to yesterday were unfazed by the arrests of organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber. 'Hold the line' is still the rallying cry."
On Wednesday, the Ottawa Police issued a notice regarding actions that could be taken against demonstrators involved in the trucker convoy protest that is in its third week.
"The Ottawa Police Service wants to inform you that under provincial and federal legislation, you will face severe penalties if you do not cease further unlawful activity and remove your vehicle and/or property immediately from all unlawful protest sites," the warning states. "You may be arrested and charged with criminal offenses including but not limited to mischief, and potentially charged with a variety of other non-criminal offenses."
The Ottawa Police threatened demonstrators that their vehicles and property could be seized, their driver's license could be suspended or terminated, and "personal or business bank accounts, including virtual currency, may be subject to examination and restriction." The bulletin also warned that anyone who brings a minor to an "unlawful protest site" faces fines of up to $5,000 and prison sentences of up to five years.
On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enacted the Emergencies Act for the first time in the country's history in an effort to quell the trucker protests.
Canada's Department of Justice explains the Emergencies Act:
The Actcontains a specific definition of “national emergency” that makes clear how serious a situation needs to be before the Act can be relied upon. A national emergency is an urgent, temporary and critical situation that seriously endangers the health and safety of Canadians or that seriously threatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Canada. It must be a situation that cannot be effectively dealt with by the provinces and territories, or by any other law of Canada.
On Thursday, the Ottawa Police announced that under the Emergencies Act, "the Unified Command in control of policing in Ottawa has established a Secured Area to ensure that individuals comply with the Emergency Measures Regulations and to ensure designated places (Parliament, Government buildings, critical infrastructure etc) are protected."
Here\u2019s a look at the secure area OPS are setting up. 100 checkpoints through according to police. \n\nBronson to the canal, Queensway to Parliament \n#Ottawa #OttNewspic.twitter.com/IJTj2UCjoE— Colton Praill (@Colton Praill) 1645131728
Police established checkpoints to verify the identity of anyone attempting to access the secured area. Only people who work or live in the area, "peace officers," and employees of the Canadian government can gain access to the secured area.
“The secured area included almost 100 checkpoints that will have police presence to ensure that those seeking entry to that secure area for unlawful reasons such as joining a protest cannot enter the downtown core,” Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said on Thursday during a press conference.
"In the last few days we have been communicating with unlawful protesters," Bell continued. "We have told them they must leave. We want to end this unlawful protest peacefully. We are prepared to employ lawful techniques to remove them from our streets."
Police in Ottawa have set up checkpoints all around the city to ask people where they are going.pic.twitter.com/9ByePAIjvw— Marie Oakes (@Marie Oakes) 1645195755
\u201cThis is now a secure area\u201d.\n\nPolice checkpoint at Metcalfe/Laurier in Ottawa. It seems they are only allowing drivers to pass if they live in the area or for work/medical purposes. \n\nhttp://ConvoyReports.com\u00a0pic.twitter.com/JSzpRfdrhb— Lincoln Jay (@Lincoln Jay) 1645148082
Ottawa Police issued a warning on Friday morning, "DEMONSTRATORS: You must leave. You must cease further unlawful activity and immediately remove your vehicle and/or property from all unlawful protest sites. Anyone within the unlawful protest site may be arrested."
DEMONSTRATORS: You must leave. You must cease further unlawful activity and immediately remove your vehicle and/or property from all unlawful protest sites. Anyone within the unlawful protest site may be arrested.pic.twitter.com/txDattNRE4— Ottawa Police (@Ottawa Police) 1645196581
Video: Massive trucker protest takes over Ottawa. Justin Trudeau reportedly moved to secret location ahead of 'Freedom Convoy' rally.
Truckers and protesters showed up in huge numbers as the Freedom Convoy descended upon Ottawa, Ontario. Despite subzero windchill temperatures on Saturday, Canadians mounted a large protest against vaccine mandates. Massive crowds peacefully protested against government overreach near Parliament Hill.
Truckers were protesting an order that went into effect on Jan. 15, requiring unvaccinated Canadian truckers re-entering the country from the U.S. to get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine themselves. There was reportedly a convoy of up to 50,000 Canadian truck drivers who traveled to Canada's capital to protest the vaccine mandates.
The CBC reported that Trudeau left Rideau Cottage early Saturday for security reasons, and was transported to a secret location with his family.
Trudeau's press secretary Ann-Clara Vaillancourt responded, "The Prime Minister is continuing to isolate in the National Capital Region & work remotely. We’ve consulted Ottawa Public Health on appropriate protocols. As always, we do not comment on security matters."
Last week, Trudeau called the trucker convoy a "small fringe minority of people" who are "holding unacceptable views that they are expressing do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other."
There were thousands of protesters, many waving Canadian flags and some were holding signs expressing contempt toward Trudeau.
Incredible scenes in Ottawa, where tens of thousands have gathered to protest for an end to COVID lies and mandates.pic.twitter.com/ioH2TM5Y4o— Michael P Senger (@Michael P Senger) 1643487446
Ottawa today\u2026 Wow! pic.twitter.com/kyomLmCw66— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1643493575
This is the scene in Ottawa as the Trucker Freedom Convoy makes their arrival.\n\nJustin Trudeau has left Canada\u2019s capital city.\n\nSo much for \u201csmall fringe minority\u201d.pic.twitter.com/uHe5KRBEaX— Benny (@Benny) 1643487569
Canada isn\u2019t going to take more lockdowns and COVID restrictions.\n\nOttawa todaypic.twitter.com/48V0ib862O— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1643528993
Content Warning: Explicit language:
The scene in Ottawa. I get the impression people here don\u2019t like Trudeau. \n\n#freedomconvoy22pic.twitter.com/1Re5RYkMRD— Beth Baisch \ud83d\udcf8 (@Beth Baisch \ud83d\udcf8) 1643469301
There were reportedly volunteers handing out food and coffee to the protesters as well as people giving truckers gift cards.
A \u201csmall fringe minority\u201d of Canadians with \u201cunacceptable views\u201d in Vankleek Hill, Ont. prepared supplies and food for truckers \u2013 including amenities for dogs who are part of the convoy. #TruckersforFreedom #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/VhvhjbDxgp— True North (@True North) 1643471970
Coffees, pocket warmers, Tim Hortons gift cards, and homemade goods brought from all across Canada are among the things being disturbed to the truckers.\n\nThe truckers say they are here to stay and not leaving until segregation is abolished. \n\nCheck out http://ConvoyReports.com\u00a0pic.twitter.com/i8P6YtCvmY— Mocha Bezirgan (@Mocha Bezirgan) 1643489650
Local authorities were forced to ask for backup from nearby communities as the crowds swelling in Ottawa. Gridlock from the rally caused Ottawa's downtown core to come to a complete standstill, and police said there was no more room for vehicles.
It\u2019s like Canada Day in January. Maybe bigger. #TruckersConvoy2022pic.twitter.com/VCWTVJonBP— Rupa Subramanya (@Rupa Subramanya) 1643478584
One trucker explained that it isn't about the vaccine, it's about "choice," "freedom," and "liberty."
"We are all together. We are all Canadians. We are all truckers," he said.
This man is a trucker and a Canadian #FreedomConvoy2022 #CHOICE #CanadaTruckers #stopvaccinemandatespic.twitter.com/GDB8em2ujs— \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 Michelle Lindsay (@\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 Michelle Lindsay) 1643494612
Rebel News founder Ezra Levant gave a speech at the Freedom Convoy rally.
I was invited by the truckers to give a short speech. Here\u2019s what I said:pic.twitter.com/ZYclZwDBtH— Ezra Levant \ud83c\udf41 (@Ezra Levant \ud83c\udf41) 1643491994
The protest continued into the night with fireworks and a party-like atmosphere.
Canadians celebrating the next official holiday on Parliament Hill: Jan 29th, Freedom Day. \n\nLes Canadiens c\u00e9l\u00e8brent la prochaine f\u00eate nationale officielle sur la Colline Parlementaire: le jour de la Libert\u00e9! \n\n@RebelNews_QC\n\n#TruckOffTrudeau\nJust a fringe minority, right?!pic.twitter.com/Xaa8l7LtWc— Maxim Boivin (@Maxim Boivin) 1643505718
CANADA : les feux d\u2019artifice et les klaxons ont accompagn\u00e9 les manifestants \u00e0 #Ottawa cette nuit. \n\n()@News24Wide\u2069 #CanadaTruckers #TruckersForFreedom2022 #Trudeaupic.twitter.com/qMTdBRVfre— Actualiste (@Actualiste) 1643539947
Ottawa's protest has turned into a full-on rave out in front of parliament tonight.\n\nI will remind you, it's -20\u00b0C (-4\u00b0F)\n\nAnd in the middle of the night, the party just keeps going \u2014 trucks included.\n\nhttp://ConvoyReports.com\u00a0pic.twitter.com/q6EQfLzwRi— Dakota Christensen (@Dakota Christensen) 1643518924
Some truckers said they plan on continuing their protest against the vaccine mandates, and will sleep in the cabs of their trucks.
In a letter to the truckers, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe pledged to end proof of vaccination policies in the province.
"My government supports your call to end the cross border ban on unvaccinated truckers," Moe said in the statement released on Saturday. "And it is why, in the not too-distant future, our government will be ending our proof of negative test/proof of vaccination policy in Saskatchewan."
Russell Brand, Don Cherry, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, and Elon Musk have voiced their support of the "Freedom Convoy."
During a rally in Texas on Saturday night, former President Donald Trump delivered an endorsement of the Canadian truckers.
"We want those great Canadian truckers to know that we are with them all the way," Trump said. "They are doing more to defend American freedom than our leaders by far."
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