On Tuesday, one of the organizers of Canada’s Freedom Convoy protests, Tamara Lich, has been officially denied bail by a judge in Ottawa as many reports claim that the judge “was not convinced” she would not be a flight risk.
Lich, the Alberta resident responsible for the $10 million crowdfunding project that was rejected by GoFundMe, was taken into custody this past Thursday and officially charged with “counselling to commit mischief.” Currently, all of Lich’s bank accounts and other financial accounts are reportedly frozen.
BREAKING— #FreedomConvoy organizer Tamara Lich has been arrested by @OttawaPolice pic.twitter.com/cK9CadOPaR
— Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington) February 18, 2022
This past Tuesday, Lich appeared in front of Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois with the expectation to post bail and return home to prepare. She instead found herself back in jail as he bail was outright denied.
“There is a substantial risk you will continue these actions and will not abide by an order,” stated Bourgeois to Lich, as reported by David Akin, a reporter with Global News.
“Your recent history in our city … satisfies me that your detention is necessary for the safety and protection of the public,” continued the judge.
"There is a substantial risk you will continue these actions and will not abide by an order,” judge tells Lich. “Your recent history in our city … satisfies me that your detention is necessary for the safety and protection of the public."
— David Akin ?? (@davidakin) February 22, 2022
Another post highlighted the judge stating, “I found your testimony to be guarded and your attitude almost to be obstructive.”
The response seemed very over the top, as Lich “has no criminal record and is ready to abide by conditions imposed on her by the court should she be released,” tweeted Global News chief political correspondent David Akin.
Lich, in court in Ottawa wearing a mask and her black ski jacket, has now spent five nights in jail in Ottawa. Court has heard she has no criminal record and is ready to abide by conditions imposed on her by the court should she be released.
— David Akin ?? (@davidakin) February 22, 2022
If Lich is convicted on the charge of mischief, she could be looking down the barrel of a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years, as stated in the report. Lich’s next scheduled court date is slated for the 2nd of March.
Chris Barber, another Freedom Convoy organizer, was reportedly given bail and was released Tuesday on a bond of $100,000.
For context on Lich bail hearing as judge renders decision. Co-convoy organizer Chris Barber was released on $100,000 bail with promises to return home to Swift Current SK and cease being a convoy organizer.
— David Akin ?? (@davidakin) February 22, 2022
Along with Lich’s arrest, Ottawa police issued a statement on Monday that stated that officers “have made 196 arrests, with 110 facing a variety of charges,” as reported by CTV News Canada.
“Ottawa police also said 115 vehicles connected to the protest have been towed,” read the report.
Members of various Canadian law enforcement used extreme crowd-control tactics such as horses, clubs, and pepper spray in efforts to arrest the demonstrators of the Freedom Convoy in downtown Ottawa over the weekend. As reported by The Daily Wire:
Law enforcement launched a campaign to break the protest, which has gone on for weeks after truckers rolled into the city in late January to protest against vaccine mandates. The demonstration has since grown to oppose other COVID-19 restrictions as well.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, enacted in 1989 as a successor to the War Measures Act, on Monday as a “last resort” to deal with the Freedom Convoy protest that has camped outside of Parliament for roughly three weeks. Law enforcement began what could be its final crackdown on the protest on Friday after thousands of officers reportedly circled the protest area.
Police began making arrests and towing vehicles. Several hours into the sweep, police have arrested at least 70 protesters and removed over 20 vehicles, according to the Ottawa Police Department. Later in the afternoon, police broke out heavy crowd control tactics such as horses, clubs, and tear gas to push the protesters back.
Police horses are brought in again against the freedom protestors as law enforcement surges forward.
Footage by @PuffinsPictures pic.twitter.com/CyVCrGICmZ
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 18, 2022
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