After night in jail, Freedom Convoy leader says his protesting days are over

Chris Barber, a prominent organizer for the ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests, was arrested on Thursday and has said that his protesting days are over after spending a night in an Ottawa jail.

According to Newsweek, Barber was arrested for alleged counseling to commit mischief, obstruction, and counseling to commit obstruction, and spent a night in prison. The 46-year-old owns a trucking company and was able to pay the $100,000 required for getting bail. He was released on Friday.

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The 46-year-old was was released on the condition that he never support the protests again in any manner, be it verbally, online, or on television, and has since said that his “organising days are over.” Barber was also told to leave town within 24 hours and return to his residence in Swift Current, Saskatoon.

If Barber’s case goes to trial, the 46-year-old could be slapped with a two-year prison sentence, as he stands accused of criminal charges, of “tormenting” the capital city of Ottawa, and of inciting others to engage in illegal activities.

Also read | Ottawa police threaten ‘freedom convoy’ truckers with arrest

The ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests began in late January 2022, when hundreds of truckers converged on the Canadian capital of Ottawa to protest against vaccine mandates in the country. The protests spread to other places in the country and went on for weeks, and the resulting logistical difficulties adversely affected the automobile industry on both sides the US and Canada. The police’s handling of the protests culminated in the resignation of Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly on February 15.

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Canada has since cracked down on the protestors, and many have been arrested over the past few days, including Ottawa organisers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich.

On Saturday, the Ottawa police moved to disperse the last of the ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters, arresting more than 100 people and towing 20 trucks away.