Two main organizers of the Canada Freedom convoy found guilty of mischief

On Thursday, two main architects of protests that were supplemented by the capital of Canada were found guilty in one of the last legal affairs arising from the demonstrations that convulsed the country and disturbed billions of dollars in commerce with the United States.

A judge condemned the best organizers of the demonstration, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, in a courthouse in Ottawa, not far from the hill of the Parliament, the site of a blockade of four weeks in 2022 which saw demonstrators parking long-haul trucks in the main streets to protest against the mandates of the Pandemic era.

Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber were found guilty of mischief, according to the Canadian press, a national Nowswire agency, an offense involving harmful public goods or disturbing people to use public goods which have a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber will be sentenced to another hearing.

The two were acquitted other accusations, in particular to hinder justice, intimidating the public and advise others to commit offenses, according to the justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms, a non -profit organization that helped the defense of Mr. Barber.

The group criticized the duration of the procedure against the two defendants.

“If Tamara Lich and Chris Barber had played a leadership role in the organization of protests against racism, transphobia or climate change, they would not have faced 45 days of trial over a period of 31 months,” said John Carpay, president of the center, in a statement.

The demonstrations were known in Canada as the “convoy of freedom” and Attracted a wave of support, especially from the Western province of Alberta.

He started as a local movement with truckers who have faced vaccination requirements to cross the American border. Mr. Barber has a truck company in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, while Ms. Lich describes herself as a political activist by Medicine Hat, Alberta, who helped collect funds to support the effort.

“I love Canada, and no matter the result today, it will never change,” said Ms. Lich in an article on X Thursday morning before the verdict.

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked a rare emergency order which allowed the authorities to take stronger measures against the demonstrators, in particular the freezing of their bank accounts and the deployment of immense police resources in Ottawa.

Pat King, another key organizer, was found guilty of mischief last year and was finally sentenced to three months of residual residence.

Similar blockages have been trained at borders in cities like Windsor, Ontario, in front of Strait, preventing trucks from transporting trade through the bridges that connect the two cities.

During another border post blocked in Coutts, Alberta, the police found a cache of arms and two men were then sentenced to six years in prison for possession of firearms and other accusations.