Trial begins against organizers of Freedom Convoy

The trial of Freedom Convoy organizers begins today in Ottawa.

• Read more: Protesters from the “Freedom March” condemned their arrest

• Read more: Almost a quarter of donations to the “Freedom Convoy” came from the United States

• Read more: A public hearing on the Emergency Measures Act begins Thursday

Chris Barber and Tamara Leach are facing justice nearly a year and a half after the protests that blocked the streets of Ottawa for three weeks.

The two organizers were arrested on the same day that the Emergency Measures Act was used to break up the demonstration.

Tamara Leach and Chris Barber face charges of mischief, obstructing police and soliciting to commit a misdemeanor.

Chris Barber is particularly identified as the starting point of the Freedom Trail. It was a conversation on TikTok that led to the convoy.

Tamara Licht was responsible for all of the event’s financing, particularly the crowdfunding campaigns that raised several million dollars.

The trial is scheduled to last 16 days and will include several witnesses, including former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, several residents and City of Ottawa police officers.