Tamara Lich, who helped organize the “Freedom Convoy” protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Canada, was denied bail on Tuesday.
Justice Julie Bourgeois on the Ontario Court of Justice determined that Lich, who was arrested last Thursday on charges of counseling to commit mischief, was likely to repeat her alleged transgressions if she was released on bail.
“I am satisfied there’s a substantial likelihood that you will, if released from custody, commit a criminal offense, more specifically continue to behave or to counsel behavior that willfully obstructs, interrupts, or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property,” she said, according to the Globe and Mail.
During the hearing, Lich promised to stop promoting the protest and return home, but the judge was unconvinced. Bourgeois referenced a video of her arrest in which she told supporters to “hold the line.” Bourgeois said there is “no doubt here on conviction” and that Lich will face a “lengthy” term in prison for her actions, the Globe and Mail reported. Lich, who does not have a prior criminal record, is scheduled to appear in court on March 2.
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“You have had plenty of opportunity to remove yourself and even others from this criminal activity but obstinately chose not to and persistently counseled others not to either,” Bourgeois said, according to Global News.
Prosecutors are also seeking to bar her from communication with Chris Barber, Pat King, and B.J. Dichter, other people who helped organize the convoy.
Lich set up the GoFundMe fundraiser for the truckers to raise money in support of the protests. Earlier this month, the company shut down the page and reimbursed about $9 million in money raised back to the donors. At one point, Lich was a member of the Maverick Party, which calls for the independence of Western Canada. The party, which was founded two years ago, has no members in the Canadian Senate or House of Commons.
The Freedom Convoy began with a group of truckers, and its supporters are protesting Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions. Several weeks ago, the truckers converged from all over Canada to the nation’s capital, Ottawa, as part of the protest. Critics of the convoy, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have accused the truckers of creating a “blockade” in Ottawa by blocking important streets in the city with trucks. At one point, the truckers blocked the Ambassador Bridge, which connected Canada to the United States, for nearly a week.
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The Canadian government invoked the Emergencies Act last week in order to clear up the protests, and Canadian police have made nearly 200 arrests and towed over 100 vehicles. Other key organizers of the protests were arrested as well, including King. King is facing charges of counseling to commit the offense of disobeying a court order, counseling to commit mischief, mischief, and counseling to obstruct police, according to the Associated Press. A bail hearing for King took place Tuesday morning, but there are no reports of a decision being reached.
