‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers Lich, Barber found guilty of mischief

“Freedom Convoy” organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber have been found guilty of mischief for their roles in the 2022 mass protest in Ottawa.

Lich and Barber were key figures and organizers in the massive protest that saw hundreds of vehicles and thousands of people occupy downtown Ottawa and insist they would stay until COVID-9 public health mandates were eliminated.

In finding the two guilty of mischief, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey said the evidence shows that the two routinely encouraged people to join or remain at the protest, despite knowing the adverse effect it was having on downtown residents and businesses.

The defence argued that Lich and Barber called for a peaceful protest and blamed any disorder on police and city officials.

Perkins-McVey found Lich and Barber not guilty of intimidation, counselling someone to commit intimidation, obstructing police and counselling someone to obstruct police.

Barber also was found guilty of counselling to disobey a court order for telling people to ignore an injunction issued by a judge directing convoy participants to stop honking their truck horns in downtown Ottawa. Lich was not charged with that offence.

Another charge of counselling others to commit mischief was stayed at the request of the Crown because it was similar to the charge of mischief.

Perkins-McVey read an abbreviated version of the 105-page verdict in an Ottawa courtroom Thursday.

Lich and Barber were greeted by supporters as they arrived at the court Thursday morning. One woman ran up to give Barber a hug, while others shouted expressions of support.

Lich broke into a smile as her supporters yelled, “We love you Tamara,” as she entered the courthouse accompanied by her lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon.