Day 3 of The Freedom Convoy 2022 Organizer’s Trial
Today was Day 3 in the Trial for the organizers of the Freedom Convoy 2022, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, in an Ottawa Courtroom.
Today’s focus was evidence about the TicToc account of Chris Barber, who reached out to hundreds of thousands of followers, telling them about a protest that would gridlock Ottawa. The crown showed videos of Barber from TicToc’s social media telling supporters to go to Ottawa and flood the city. Ottawa Police Sergeant Joanne Pilotte testified about some of the 5 hours of videos in evidence against Barber and Lich.
The crown is trying to show that the organizers encouraged thousands to head to Ottawa in protest and stay long-term no matter what the police told them. Prosecutors will attempt to prove it was more than just freedom of expression and a simple protest and gathering, that eventually, it was an illegal gathering orchestrated by Lich and Barber.
Apart from the criminal trial, there is a $300-million proposed class-action lawsuit under way for those who claimed they suffered harm as a result of the demonstrations.
The trial will last 16 days; Thursday was just day 3.
