‘Freedom Convoy’ trial Day 6: Facebook page focal point of Tuesday hearings

globalnews.ca:

Tamara Lich promised that “Freedom Convoy” demonstrators in downtown Ottawa would remain “peaceful but planted” as reports emerged that Prime Minister Minister Justin Trudeau was ready to invoke the Emergencies Act to end the protest, a courtroom heard Tuesday.

“No matter what you do, we will hold the line,” Lich, a figurehead in the “Freedom Convoy” movement and a key organizer of the protests, promised in a press conference on Feb. 14, 2022.

A video of the scene was played in an Ottawa courtroom on Tuesday, where the Crown is trying to prove that Lich and her fellow organizer, Chris Barber, exerted control and influence on the protest that unfolded over three weeks in Ottawa and ended with a massive police operation.

The sixth day of the trial marked the first time the court has seen examples appearing to show Lich encouraging protesters to Ottawa and remain there, even as police ordered them to leave.

Both Lich and Barber face charges of mischief, counselling others to commit mischief, intimidation and obstructing police in connection with their role in the “Freedom Convoy” that descended on downtown Ottawa last winter to protest COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberals.

The videos played in court Tuesday are not considered evidence in the trial, which is being heard by a judge alone. Lich and Barber’s defence lawyers plan to argue against admitting social media content gathered from the “Freedom Convoy 2022” Facebook page. The defence has made several arguments over the admissibility of evidence, which has slowed the process.

The online content presented in court shows Lich announced early in the protest that demonstrators would not leave until the government abolished COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Thousands of trucks