Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich, who is currently on trial, repeatedly urged protesters to remain peaceful and “hold the line” the day before her arrest, according to testimony heard in court. On February 16, the day before she was arrested in downtown Ottawa, Lich addressed protesters in a live-streamed video on Facebook, urging them to stay peaceful, take care of each other, and have faith that things would improve. She expressed her readiness for a new day and reassured protesters that she was not afraid. Lich and Chris Barber, two prominent organizers of the Freedom Convoy protest against vaccine mandates and passports in Ottawa, are facing charges related to mischief and obstructing police.
The Crown prosecutors presented several videos during the trial, aiming to demonstrate that Lich and Barber had significant influence over the course of the protest. The demonstration ended after the government implemented the Emergencies Act, granting authorities the power to disband the protest and restrict travel and finances of participants. Prosecutors also cited posts and videos from the “Freedom Convoy 2022” Facebook page as evidence.
In one video from February 17, Lich appeared emotional and called for unity and love among protesters. She urged them to show respect to reporters, police officers, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and acknowledged the possibility of her own arrest. Lich invited others to stand with them in Ottawa or offer prayers if they couldn’t physically join the protest. The phrase “hold the line” was frequently used by Lich and echoed by protesters as they were being pushed back by police.
Lich emphasized the peaceful nature of the demonstrations and encouraged protesters to stand firm and not be deterred by threats. She commended their courage and stated that their actions had already inspired an international movement. Lich also clarified that the protest organizers were not responsible for the trucker blockade at the Canada-U.S. border in Windsor, Ontario, but supported peaceful demonstrations across the country.
The videos shown in court on September 12 are not considered direct evidence but provide context to the trial. Lich’s and Barber’s lawyers have been requesting clarification on the Crown’s usage of the Facebook page content as evidence. Additionally, the judge has not yet decided whether nine Ottawa residents and business owners will be allowed to testify in the trial. The trial is scheduled to continue for 16 days.