The trial of trucker convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber has entered its eighth day, and the lawyers involved are continuing to present videos of the protest that took place in downtown Ottawa in January and February 2022. During the proceedings on September 14, the defense lawyers played footage of Chris Barber denouncing Romana Didulo, the leader of a group that attempted to burn a Canadian flag during the protest. In a TikTok video from February 3, Barber stated, “You don’t belong to our group, Ms. Romana… We’re not here to burn flags.”
Barber made it clear to Romana Didulo, who calls herself the “Queen of Canada,” that she was not welcome in their movement. He emphasized that the protest was for Canada and condemned any act of burning the Canadian flag. Didulo, a Filipino immigrant, had encouraged her followers to burn the flag on Parliament Hill on February 3. It was also noted that she has called for the execution of healthcare workers and politicians who support mass vaccination campaigns.
In her list of “official royal decrees,” Didulo posted a decree regarding temporary housing for the truckers’ convoy arriving in Ottawa on January 29, 2022. Another decree addressed the allocation of $50 billion in unemployment funds for those who refused the COVID-19 vaccination or were without income.
Both Chris Barber and Tamara Lich, prominent organizers of the Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, are facing charges of mischief, counseling to commit mischief, intimidation, and obstructing police. Barber also faces an additional charge of counseling others to disobey a court order. Defense lawyers presented videos from Barber’s TikTok account, highlighting his repeated calls for peaceful protests and respect for police officers.
In one video, Barber acknowledged the presence of riot police and snipers but advised truckers not to engage violently. He emphasized that compliance was paramount, even when faced with force. Another video, posted on the same day Barber was arrested, showed him discussing the fencing being erected around Parliament Hill as an indication of imminent police action. Barber urged the demonstrators to peacefully cooperate with law enforcement, stating that they had no right to arrest the protesters as long as they were not breaking the boundaries of the Emergencies Act.
The protest eventually ended after the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act on February 14, 2022. This provided the authorities with enhanced powers to disperse the protest, including travel bans and freezing protesters’ bank accounts. Four days later, a police operation brought the protest to a close.
The videos presented during the trial are not currently being submitted as evidence, as the judge, Heather Perkins-McVey, has yet to decide if crown prosecutors can rely on them and other evidence obtained from social media platforms. Additionally, the judge has not made a decision regarding the testimonies of nine Ottawa residents and business owners. The defense lawyers had argued that their perspectives were not legally relevant to the case and should not be treated as witness impact statements filed during an ongoing trial.
The criminal trial is scheduled to last for 16 days.