CONVOY TRIAL DIARY: APOLOGY AND CATCH UP

and what does this trial mean for future C-19 protests?

I’d hoped to be back in Ottawa for you this week but ran into trouble on a another project, one that’s been extremely tough to navigate. As you know by now, during C-19 and given the dearth of awake voices — I was reluctant to say no to just about any project that came my way. But sometimes, things just don’t work out and one must move on. Difficult day but it is done and I will be heading back to Ottawa on Sunday night for an extended period — I hope.

Distance from the daily proceedings has me thinking about how dangerous is this prosecution for the country. Teresa Tam and her ilk are at it again, pushing barely tested jabs on infants and parading around Ottawa in masks that have even Tony Fauci squirming when confronted with data. Many of us are questioning how we push back if they go full tyrant again with hysterical C-19 measures that harm people and don’t work. Below is a gem. Click here to watch video. We are not a serious country.

So while they are trotting out the absurdities again, we are watching as the people who protested them last time stand trial in Ottawa. We have gotten the message that arguing with the prime minister’s Covid-19 regime propels you to jail. India’s prime minister Modi gets it loud and clear. At some point the Liberal party will realize their chosen Instagram-influencer is causing our country reputational damage. And an idea you heard here early — that Trudeau rejected a statesman-like discussion with the convoy in favour of drastic police action - is now taking root around trial commentary.

Could there be another freedom convoy if things get really dicey? Well, given the bank account freezing, media-led smearing and and police overreach — it’s unlikely. And one has to ask who actually should be on trial in Ottawa. Link to the video below here.

The Epoch Times has a good review of the charges against Lich and Barber and discusses some legal thresholds that must be met for them to stick. What has been happening in court is a lengthy review of evidence from the Crown. It seems some of it could be on the chopping block when the judge rules — from Ottawa locals testimony, to the convoy’s digital messages and videos. If Justice Heather Perkins-McVey rules any of it inadmissible, I’m not sure where the Crown would go.

The Canadian Press, which has been admirably neutral, reports that today the defence in its cross examination will lead videos that show the convoy in a peaceful and in my view, accurate light. So far, even the evidence from the Crown shows non-violent, even joyful protests with Lich and Barber imploring the protesters to stay chill. The only violence has been in images of police hitting protesters in the head. Something her honor mentioned. Note: below is from a CP story, as a rip and read by Global, not a story reported by Global itself.

Defence lawyers for two freedom convoy organizers are expected to show the court a more peaceful view of the protest as they cross-examine the officer assigned to social media evidence in the case.

The Crown has taken the court through several days of social media evidence from Barber’s TikTok account and the “Freedom Convoy 2022” Facebook page, though the defence plans to argue some of that is irrelevant.

Live Not By Lies said Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn — a mantra for our times. All the Eileen Fisher in the world is meaningless if one sells one’s soul to pay for it. Sorry men — this is a female-centric reference. So, for the foreseeable future, it’s no-name essentials for me. But my hard won shoe collection stands.

Recently, with David Leis of the Frontier Centre I did a deep dive that explores how I got here and I’m sure many of you have similar stories. It’s a good wrap up. (Note: the thumbnail photo is before I let my hair go gray — without international fanfare.)

My freedom convoy story is at 23:50 to about 34:39.

See you soon from the Ottawa Court of Justice.

Say Critical.