WARNING:This story contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some.
KAWARTHA LAKES-The Ottawa Police Service says more than 100 people have been arrested and 21 vehicles towed at the Freedom Convoy 2022 protest in downtown Ottawa.
The truckers descended on Ottawa on January 29th to protest vaccine mandates and other COVID restrictions, clogging some roads downtown and constantly honking their horns. A court later issued an injunction against the honking.
On Thursday night officers arrested and charged 49-year-old Tamara Lich of Medicine Hat, Alberta who is one of the organizers of the protest. Lich was standing on the street when officers walked up and asked to speak with her before placing her under arrest. In a video posted online Lich turned and put her hands behind her back, was placed in handcuffs and taken to a waiting police car without a struggle.
Lich has been charged with:
- Counselling to commit the offence of mischief.
46-year-old Christopher John Barber of Swift Current, Saskatchewan is thought to be another one of the organizers.
BARBER has been charged by the Criminal Investigations Section with:
- Counselling to commit the offence of mischief;
- Counselling to commit the offence of disobey court order (s. 127);
- Counselling to commit the offence of obstruct police.
Police also arrested protestor 44-year-old Patrick James King of Red Deer, Alberta.
A third organizer named Daniel Bulford was also arrested according to the Convoy but no details have been released.
King was charged by the Criminal Investigations Section with:
- Mischief
- Counselling to Commit the Offence of Mischief
- Counselling to Commit the Offence of Disobey Court Order (s.127)
- Counselling to Commit the Offence of Obstruct Police
Hundreds of police from across Canada, including Durham, Toronto, Quebec, RCMP and more took part in the operation to clear the protestors from in front of the Parliament Buildings on Friday. The Peterborough Police Service says it offered assistance but it was not required. Kawartha Lakes Police Service says they have no officers in Ottawa.
Ottawa Police tweeted that no one had been seriously injured or passed away in any of the police actions after a number of videos surfaced showing RCMP Mounted Unit horses trampling protestors. At least two fell to the ground including one woman who was using a walker. People were heard screaming “You trampled her”. Photos show a man on the ground with a horse hoof on him.
Police later said a “bike” had been thrown at the horses. No bike appears in the video or photos.
“We hear your concern for people on the ground after the horses dispersed a crowd. Anyone who fell got up and walked away. We’re unaware of any injuries. A bicycle was thrown at the horse further down the line and caused the horse to trip. The horse was uninjured.” said police.
Police had issued numerous warnings for protestors to leave the area prior to commencing the action.
“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.” said their Twitter account.
They also threatened to charge journalists who did not leave the area. It’s unknown if any were charged but most remained in the area to report on the police action.
“All media who are attending the area, please keep a distance and stay out of police operations for your safety. Anyone found within areas undergoing enforcement may be subject to arrest. There will be a media availability later today at 474 Elgin Street.” stated police.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) condemned the move.
“Warning journalists about safety risks in the protest zone is reasonable. Threatening them with arrest for doing their jobs is not.” said the CCLA.
Barry MacKillop of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada says that while crowdfunding sites such as Go Fund Me and Give Send Go aren’t covered under the agency’s mandate, when money comes from entities that are “questionable” transactions would be flagged. He went on to say “we have not seen a spike in suspicious transaction reporting.”
MacKillop was appearing before the House Public Safety and National Security Committee looking at ways to “prevent the promotion of extremism, white supremacy, antisemitism and other forms of hate”.
A large group of self-described “apolitical Jewish Israeli medical scientists, physicians, researchers and legal scholars”, some of whom say they are second or third-generation Holocaust survivors added to the growing chorus of groups against invoking the Emergencies Act. They wrote Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a letter saying in part:
“You adopted a smear-by-association campaign portraying protesters as ‘Nazi sympathizers’, ‘racist’ and ‘antisemitic’. We are “deeply concerned by your attempts to stigmatize the Freedom Convoy 2022 protestors as Nazi ideology supporters. The important fight against antisemitism should not be weaponized and directed at a legitimate civil protest which aims at restoring fundamental liberties, to what used to be, until not long ago, one of the freest countries in the world.”
Later Friday evening more protestors started showing up on foot carrying Canadian Flags some walking miles to avoid police checkpoints.
The House of Commons is set to resume the debate on the legitimacy of invoking the Emergencies Act in this instance today after having the debate cancelled on Friday.
This article has been updated with the name of the third organizer who was charged.
