On Day 8 of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy, peaceful protesters returned to Parliament Hill on Sunday to pray and sing, even more truckers arrived in the nation’s capital and Justin Trudeau remained in hiding.
The day in Ottawa began with a religious service on Parliament Hill led by Pastor Henry Hildebrandt. It was attended by thousands of people.
Joining the sermon was a clan mother from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories who alongside the pastor offered her blessing to the thousands of people in attendance.
The elder thanked the protestors, saying, “that’s what this movement is about – one heart. And what does that mean? That means love, understanding, acceptance, tolerance – and when we have that, we will respect one another.”
After the service, the organizers of the Freedom Convoy’s GoFundMe, which has received more than $8.9 million in donations, held a press conference, speaking only to independent journalists including True North’s Andrew Lawton.
Asked by Keean Bexte about how long the protest in Ottawa would continue, organizer Benjamin Dichter said that the truckers would remain in Ottawa for as long as it takes.
How long will this go, @TheRealKeean asks. Dichter: As long as it takes (notes days are getting longer and weather will get warmer.)
Addressing distribution of the GoFundMe donations, organizer Tamara Lich told reporters that the funds would be used for fuel, food and lodging for truckers who would be continuing the protest.
On GoFundMe: Tamara Lich says the $8 million is still going to be used for fuel, food, lodging for truckers continuing the protest (as noted in previous tweets, organizers anticipate this will last a while.)
Dichter stressed to the reporters that the organizers would not be taking any of the funds for themselves but that some truckers may be compensated for not being able to work due to the federal vaccine mandates.
Dichter notes organizers are not taking any of the funds but says some truckers may be compensated for lost wages from being unable to work (yet to be determined).
The CBC and other legacy media outlets continued to push a hateful and negative narrative about the convoy and its supporters today.
The CBC emphasized the sighting of a Nazi flag at the protest on Saturday as an example of the “hateful” presence at the protest.
Instead of trying to identify the person with the flag, however, CBC resorted to interviews with “experts” to condemn the protest. One CBC video released today was titled, “Protest convoy had ‘worst display of Nazi propaganda in this country,’ anti-hate advocate says.”
True North wants to identify that person, and founder Candice Malcolm is offering up to $6500 to anyone who can help us find whoever was carrying that flag.
WHO IS THIS MAN? True North will pay $6,500 for information that leads to his identification. Let's find him. pic.twitter.com/xCdpo615Zi
Canada’s federal transport minister Omar Alghabra joined Rosemary Barton’s Sunday show, where Barton asked him whether the Canadian government was planning to implement a vaccine mandate on truckers driving between provinces.
Alghabra answered, “no one should be surprised that there is work being done to get us there.”
"No one should be surprised that there is work being done to get us there," Liberal Transport minister Omar Alghabra hints at a vaccine mandate for interprovincial truck drivers in Canada. #cdnpolipic.twitter.com/mCzNUEnOG3
New groups of truckers were spotted rolling into downtown Ottawa tonight where organizers have said they will remain until the federal government lifts the vaccine mandate on truckers.
Looks like a new convoy just rolled into town. I live in the market so I have prime view. These looked like fresh trucks coming in. My cat who makes a cameo was also intrigued. pic.twitter.com/taI8iAtv2v
Canada’s trucker convoy has inspired the world. In Australia, “truckies” began their ‘Convoy to Canberra’ in solidarity with their Canadian counterparts.
Here is the scene from down under.
#BREAKING: Australian truckies from across the country, inspired by their Canadian counterparts, are heading for the capital in protest of mandates.
Ottawa Police have reported zero arrests at the Freedom Convoy and Rally on Parliament Hill this weekend, this despite Justin Trudeau and several journalists warning that the protests would be violent and even suggesting that the truckers were domestic terrorists.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators exercised their democratic rights by protesting government overreach and demanding their freedoms back.
“Large crowds remained in the downtown core throughout the night and were actively managed by police,” read a statement issued by the Ottawa Police Service Sunday morning at 8:00 am.
“Officers encountered several challenges with demonstrators, including sporadic road blockages by trucks, which officers worked to clear.”
“These high-risk situations were de-escalated and resolved with no arrests.”
A subsequent statement issued on Sunday evening at 7:30pm stated that police had dealt with some “disruptive, inappropriate and threatening behaviour from demonstrators” but did not mention any arrests.
“Throughout the weekend, the Ottawa Police Service and its partners have been actively and patiently managing a well-funded, major demonstration in the downtown core,” read the statement released Sunday evening.
This peaceful protest was described by True North’s Andrew Lawton as a “huge block party.”
A few thoughts about the freedom convoy rally in Ottawa having been walking around for the last six hours:
The tone is not anger, but excitement. This is a huge block party. There's music, dancing, beer, pot, cheering, hugging, honking. People are just having a good time.
National Post columnist Rupa Subramanya described it as a “winter festival.”
For those of you who think these protestors are all right wing lunatics and white supremacists, you ought to walk around the protests as I did. I saw people of all colours and ethnicities. It felt like a winter carnival.
With tens of thousands of protesters gathering on Parliament Hill, Liberal politicians and legacy media journalists alike had predicted violence.
“Trudeau concerned trucker convoy converging on Parliament Hill could turn violent,” read a headline from CTV News on Friday afternoon.
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s concerned about the potential for violence during this weekend’s planned protest on Parliament Hill,” read the article, which came from the news wire service the Canadian Press and runs in newspapers and on news websites across the country.
“Of course I’m concerned,” Trudeau said in an interview Friday.
Countless other journalists parroted Trudeau’s warnings, predicting that the protests would turn violent.
Trudeau’s state broadcaster, the CBC, described it as “a raucous demonstration that has police on high alert for possible violence even as organizers urge the crowd to be peaceful.”
Despite dozens of media reports predicting violence and accusing the organizers of using “violent language,” the weekend turned out to be peaceful and arrest-free.
This runs counter to several of the large and high profile protests that have turned into riots over the years in Ottawa.
In November 2020, a “Black and Indigenous Lives Matter” protest digressed into violence and resulted in a dozen people being arrested and charged with mischief. In response, the organizers insisted they “didn’t do anything wrong.”
In a recent news report that was widely mocked and debunked, Global News tried to portray the Freedom Convoy as “Canada’s January 6th.”
On Friday, Ottawa police dismissed this idea as “absurd.”
Apparently,Ottawa police officer at presser last night dismissed as absurd the narrative organizers were looking for a Jan 6 US style situation.The officer said I understand what's going on in America but this is Canada and we're a peaceful country.We see no violent intent at all
Ottawa Police Chief, asked about the likelihood of a Jan 6-like event: We have every confidence that the protestors coming to capital will act peacefully. "Those who choose to do otherwise can be assured there will be a commensurate response."
Some journalists, however, continue to insist the Freedom Convoy is an “invasion” and suggest the protesters may try to breach the Parliament Buildings.
Back in 2016, an anti-pipeline protest-turned-riot did just that. Scores of rioters breached a fence and attempted to swarm the Centre Block building. According to news reports at the time, “99 people were arrested… and later charged under the Trespass to Property Act of Ontario.”
The Freedom Convoy has arrived in Ottawa, and their positive and hopeful message has inspired freedom-loving people all over the world.
Unfortunately, much of the legacy media coverage has not focused on the optimistic story about the truckers, the groundswell of support they received and the many communities across Canada who have united and rallied behind their cause. Instead, the media has chosen to focus on two or three men flying egregious flags.
Two or three men flying racist flags should not taint an entire movement. But actual Nazis should be named, shamed and driven out of the Freedom Convoy movement. We need to know who these individuals are and why they are trying to harm the reputation of hard-working Canadians using their democratic right to hold a peaceful protest.
I decided to put it to the tens of thousands of independent journalists in Ottawa – the men and women who are present at the Freedom Convoy – to see if anyone could help me identify these individuals.
True North will pay $1,000 to anyone who can help identify the person flying the Nazi flag.
Who is he or she? Where is this photo taken? Are there any other photos, aside from this single shot making the rounds? Pls don’t doxx. DMs are open. Thank you 🙏 pic.twitter.com/cFTA1zcbYW
I woke up this morning to nearly 100 DMs in my Twitter inbox, many from people simply thanking me for trying to get to the bottom of this, truckers telling me they want to see the Nazi flag destroyed as it has nothing to do with their movement, and several more donors pledging thousands more dollars to the pot (It now stands at $6,500) to whoever can successfully identify this Nazi flag guy.
Thanks to dozens of specific and helpful tips, suggestions, ideas, eye-witness accounts and a few new photos, this is what I’ve been able to piece together so far.
Users tell me the original photo was likely taken at Major’s Hill Park, with the backdrop showing the Locks and the Canal in the background. Note that the park is also next to the US Embassy and across the street from Byward Market. There is a large parking lot at the Market and a number of bus routes that lead to Rideau Street and Rideau Centre Mall. The Nazi flag guy could have easily parked or jumped off a bus and been in this location in under a minute.
This looks like it was taken in Majors Hill Park on the other side of the Canal near the Château Laurier away from Parliament Hill. Be skeptical.
Some users claim the photo is photoshopped, pointing to the shadows and the different way the wind is blowing each of the flags. Another user pointed out how strange it is to see people sitting on park benches, given that the temperature was somewhere between -13C and -17C.
UPDATE: I’ve received more photos, this one appears to be at the Chateau Laurier. Help us identify this individual so we can try to better understand who they are and why they flew this vile flag. The pot is up to $3k thanks to two matching donors. pic.twitter.com/knMuIQblYA
Next, the Nazi flag guy can be seen walking along the terrace of the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel, which is directly beside Major’s Hill Park. It would have taken less than a minute to walk from the park to this location.
Again, some users insist this is photoshopped. They point to the reflection in the window, the vivid colour of the flag in the reflection, and the way that the flagpole cannot be seen in the reflection. These photos look real to me, however, and I’ve now seen enough pictures and a video to be convinced that this was not photoshopped.
Finally, we have received new footage of Nazi flag guy outside the Château Laurier. This is the clearest, best image of the individual yet.
This was taken as an Apple live photo that has been turned into a video. I’ve also zoomed in so you can see his face. It was taken at 1:57pm local time on Saturday afternoon in Ottawa.
If you can help identify him, the True North reward is now up to $6,500.
Final interesting tip – a Facebook user named “MIckey Anthony” who claims to live in “Wuhan China.” It looks suspicious, perhaps a fake account, but the user was trolling on Ben Shapiro’s Facebook page yesterday claiming to be the one carrying the flags at the rally.
My guess is this is some guy in his mum’s basement, but I’m adding it to the mix just in case anyone knows this guy or can verify if it’s really him.
That’s it for now folks – please keep the tips coming and help us get to the bottom of this.
And if you want to chip into our reward fund, please follow this linkand make a donation. We will keep it separate from our general donations and make sure it goes to whoever can help identify the Nazi flag guy.
Canadian legacy media outlets have been spinning themselves in circles trying to discount and defame the massive Freedom Convoy protest.
First, they ignored the convoy altogether.
Then, they pretended the truckers were protesting bad road conditions.
Then, something amazing happened. The convoy took on a life of its own, grew beyond anything anyone could have predicted and inspired and united the nation.
In response, legacy media journos are doing their best to discredit, denigrate and delegitimize the truckers and their supporters.
Try as they may, however, Canadians – and the whole world watching from outside – can see through their malice.
These journalists have lost all credibility, and their desperate attempts to portray this movement as anything other than what it is – peaceful, positive, patriotic and proud – are falling flat.
Here is a quick round-up of some of the absolutely stupidest things said, alleged and reported by legacy media journalists this week about the Truckers for Freedom Convoy.
CBC anchor invents conspiracy theory about Russia orchestrating convoy
Without a shred of evidence, a CBC News anchor floated the possibility that “Russian actors” had instigated the convoy due to Canada’s support of Ukraine.
During an interview with Liberal public safety minister Marco Mendicino, the CBC journalist based her entire theory on unspecified concerns.
“Given Canada’s support of Ukraine in this current crisis with Russia, I don’t know if it is far-fetched to ask, but there is concern that Russian actors could be continuing to fuel things as this protest grows, perhaps even instigating it from the outside?” asked Nil Köksal.
Washington Post cartoonist smears Canadian truckers as fascists
Left-wing Washington Post cartoonist Michael de Adder released a vastly unpopular cartoon on Friday as the convoy closed in on Ottawa.
In his caricature, de Adder portrayed a series of trucks all blazoned with the word “fascism,” attempting to demonize hardworking truckers and their supporters as enemies of their fellow Canadians.
Unfortunately for him, Canadians came out in droves to downvote the cartoon into oblivion, with over 11,000 commenters expressing their disgust at the portrayal.
To save face, de Adder claimed that he supported “all truckers” but did “not support this convoy.”
Parliament Today “expert” says donating to convoy is funding domestic terrorism
On Wednesday the capital-based news outlet Parliament Today released a report citing “national security expert” Jessica Davis, who falsely claimed that anyone donating to the convoy’s fundraiser could be found guilty of providing financial assistance to a terror group.
“(Davis) warns that those who have donated to groups in support of ongoing truck rallies could be found guilty under the Criminal Code, as they ‘directly or indirectly’ could provide financial services intended to carry out any terrorist ‘activity’ or benefit such a ‘group’,” tweeted the outlet.
After being challenged and shown that Davis had a bias against the truckers, the outlet quickly deleted the tweet without issuing a correction.
Journalist says protest is “medium-large” and that “it’s invisible” in Ottawa core
In an attempt to downsize the convoy’s scale, The Logic’s Ottawa reporter David Reevely took a misleading photo of an empty street and used it as proof that the protest was “medium-large by Ottawa standards.”
To sum up: The protest is medium-large by Ottawa standards. The Parliamentary Precinct is nearly impassable. There are traffic impacts in the core, somewhat beyond on major routes. Some racket. The effect largely peters out within Centretown. By the Queensway, it’s invisible. pic.twitter.com/bFitPZhQNI
Aerial footage of the protests shows massive gatherings of tens of thousands of people in the capital’s core and pouring out into nearby streets. Additionally, trucks at the tail end of the convoy continue to roll into Ottawa to join protests as rallies continue throughout the weekend.
Reporter tries to portray families lighting a small bonfire as things “getting out of hand”
Far-left reporter Justin Ling has repeatedly tried to smear the convoy as an extremist movement akin to the Jan. 6 US Capitol riots in Washington DC.
Ling claimed things in the capital were “getting out of hand” when he misheard the contents of a police scanner report.
“Some reports that things are getting out of hand. I’m hearing police scanner reports (of) someone attempting a fire downtown. Meanwhile, sounds like the protesters inside the Rideau Centre are getting unruly. If you’re downtown, I’d suggest getting out of downtown,” tweeted Ling.
Shortly afterwards, Ling wrote a followup tweet admitting that what he thought was arson was actually “a small bonfire” lit by families and other revelers.
CBC journo tries to smear convoy using random text message
On Thursday, CBC Toronto journalist Dale Manucdoc falsely attributed hateful text messages he had received to a “Toronto contact” for the trucker’s convoy after he had allegedly asked for an interview with organizers.
CLARIFICATION: I received these texts after reaching out to a Toronto contact number listed on a website for the convoy. The texts came from a different number than the contact number. The texter did not identify themselves.
Manucdoc was forced to issue a clarification later the same day, however, admitting that the “texts came from a different number than the contact number” and that whoever texted the messages “did not identify themselves.”
CTV journalist suggests single confederate flag will be one of many
CTV National News journalist Mackenzie Gray used a single photo of one hooded individual carrying a confederate flag in Ottawa to paint the convoy as a potentially racist movement.
You claim to be a journalist, so why don’t you interview him? You can ask him who he is — and why he is flying a Confederate Flag. If you just post a picture like this with no context, it looks like you’re implying the entire convoy are racists. How do you know he isn’t a plant? https://t.co/NzaXeHNLT2
Gray’s insinuation was quickly challenged by others, including Florida Gov. Ron Desantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw. Pushaw accused Gray of tweeting the photo with “no context” and that it appeared that he was “implying the entire convoy are racists.”
Media cites far-left “anti-hate” activists as experts to paint convoy as extremist
The use of far-left “anti-hate” activists as experts has been common in the legacy media’s ongoing attempts to tarnish the convoy’s image.
A recent article by CTV News cited little-known Canadian Anti-Hate Network activist Peter Smith as a credible “expert” source regarding the alleged extremism of the convoy and its supporters.
The Canadian Anti-Hate Network has frequently shared and promoted the work of the violent far-left group Antifa.
Legacy journalists get defensive over being criticized for comparing convoy protest to US Capitol riots
Global News reporters who attempted to discredit the convoy by comparing it to the Jan. 6 US Capitol riots have gone on the defensive since their comparisons have been criticized for lack of substance.
Instead of responding to these criticisms, however, their outlets have doubled down – alleging a colleague of theirs was called a communist and insisting they had evidence that “extremists are trying to take over” the convoy. Of course, no credible evidence was provided.
Globe and Mail falsely claims Sikh truckers were not invited to join convoy
The Globe and Mail published a misleading article suggesting the Sikh community had not been invited to join the Truckers for Freedom Convoy.
A tremendous amount of evidence proves otherwise, both on social media and on the ground. Many members from the Sikh community, including drivers, participated in the convoy and were present in Ottawa on Saturday.
We are proud of every indian who adds to the resistance even while being thousands of miles away from home.
11. CTV News falsely claims convoy is embarrassing to truckers
Other attempts to delegitimize the protests include claims that the trucking industry does not support the convoy. A recent CTV News article relied on the comment of one trucker from London, Ontario to say that the convoy was “an embarrassment for the industry.”
The thousands of truckers who participated in the convoy say otherwise. Additionally, the article relied on two industry organizations, both of which were once advocating to repeal the Liberal vaccine mandate which sparked the convoy in the first place.
Only a week ago Mike Millian from the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada was saying that the mandate caused “mass confusion” in the sector and that Liberal flip-flopping has placed truck drivers’ lives into upheaval. Similarly, the Canadian Trucking Alliance was warning how the mandate would have “a negative impact” and that it would throw the supply chain into disarray.
Both groups have since changed their messaging to suit the official media narrative instead of throwing their support behind their fellow truckers. Despite being abandoned by these organizations, the trucking convoy continues to grow and support for its message has reached an international audience.
Former US president Donald J. Trump told a rally in Conroe, Texas that Americans stood behind the Truckers for Freedom Convoy for resisting COVID-19 mandates and defending freedom.
“It’s true, the Canadian truckers – you’ve been reading about it – who are resisting bravely these lawless mandates and are doing more to defend American freedom than our own leaders by far, and we want those great Canadian truckers to know that we are with them all the way. They’ve really shown something,” Trump told a cheering crowd of supporters.
Attempts by the legacy media to paint the convoy and its adherents as extremists have failed as international figures have rallied to support the movement.
Trump’s support was preceded by that of his son Donald Trump Jr., who posted a video to his social media encouraging the Canadian truckers as they headed to Ottawa to protest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s vaccine mandates and other restrictions.
Other figures including billionaire Elon Musk, podcaster Joe Rogan and actor Rob Schneider have also thrown their hats behind the truckers. True North has published an exclusive list of celebrities who have raised their voices in public support.
“Trudeau may have to redefine what a “small fringe minority” is… It’s stretching from Manitoba to Ontario!” said Schneider in mockery of an earlier statement by Trudeau.
Since the convoy reached Ottawa, Trudeau has been whisked away by security to a “secret location” over apparent fears that the protest could turn dangerous.
Despite the media smears, however, protest organizers have cooperated with police and have said that any instigators were not welcome in the convoy.
The protests are expected to continue throughout the weekend as the tail end of the nation-wide convoy makes its way towards its final destination in the nation’s capital.
Out of thin air and without a single shred of evidence, a CBC anchor on Power & Politics suggested on Friday that Russia had played a role in planning and orchestrating the Truckers for Freedom Convoy.
Nil Köksal made the outlandish claim while interviewing Liberal public safety minister Marco Mendicino as protesters began to arrive in Ottawa to protest COVID-19 mandates and erosion of freedoms.
“Given Canada’s support of Ukraine in this current crisis with Russia, I don’t know if it is far-fetched to ask, but there is concern that Russian actors could be continuing to fuel things as this protest grows, perhaps even instigating it from the outside?” asked Köksal.
Without challenging the assertion, Mendocino stated that he would leave the answer to his national security experts.
“Well again, I’m going to defer to our partners at Public Safety, the trained officials and experts in that area,” said Mendicino.
Köksal made no mention of who exactly it was that was concerned about Russian infiltration in the protest. To date, neither Public Safety nor the Canadian Security Intelligence Service have issued any warnings to the effect.
The CBC’s claim continues a trend by Canadian legacy media outlets to paint the convoy as an extremist movement set to storm the capital city akin to the Jan. 6 US Capitol riots in Washington DC.
No such claims have been made by the convoy or its organizers, and most of the media’s comparisons to the event have fallen on deaf ears.
The US Capitol riots allegedly took place as an attempt to overturn the results of the 2021 US election.
In comparison, the Truckers for Freedom Convoy began after the Liberal government’s decision to implement a vaccine mandate for cross-border truck drivers. It has since grown to include calls for the reinstatement of Charter rights in Canada and for the country to drop all COVID restrictions.
Convoy organizers have stated clearly that any instigators or radicals would not be welcome among their ranks. They have encouraged their supporters to report any attempted violence or criminal acts to police.
Even the RCMP have confirmed that the trucker convoy is a “peaceful” movement made up of Canadians of all sorts
On Day 7 of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy, tens of thousands of people peacefully converged on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, the legacy media’s hateful narrative crumbled and Canadians sent a message to the entire world – that vaccine mandates and restrictions under COVID must come to an end.
The legacy media’s predictions of violence and extremism were foiled today as tens of thousands of Canadians jubilantly gathered on Parliament Hill waving Canadian flags, dancing in the streets and celebrating the conclusion of a monumental convoy that united a nation and inspired similar movements around the world.
True North was on the ground to capture the scenes and speak with those who braved the cold weather to lend their voices to the truckers’ call for freedom.
This was what it looked like before the protest began early on Saturday.
When asked about what brought him all the way out from Edmonton, one Albertan protestor told True North, “freedom – to be heard, to support and to hear the people sing.”
Many members of the legacy media reported that only “hundreds” of people were part of the trucker convoy, likely in an attempt to corroborate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks on Wednesday that the truckers were part of a “small fringe minority.”
Aerial footage captures some of the scale and magnitude of that “small fringe minority” as it came together in full force today.
Despite freezing weather (-23) a “small minority” of #TruckersForFreedom2022 and tens of thousands of supporters across Canada have come to show their opposition to Trudeau’s “immoral” infringements on their freedoms. The atmosphere of unity keeps them warm. More are on their way pic.twitter.com/ER3FtbXmP5
This footage from True North shows what it was like on the ground earlier today.
My best attempt at a panoramic to show how big the convoy crowd is. One big party here. Where’s the racism and violence we were promised? pic.twitter.com/XFAohPIGvz
True North’s Andrew Lawton spoke to former Conservative Party leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis, who declared the protest today was “what democracy is all about.”
Lewis went on to say, “people believe that the government has overstepped with mandates, and they are here to exercise their democratic right.”
True North also caught up with People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier, who told Andrew Lawton that “the truckers are giving hope to thousands of Canadians.”
As of the time this article was published, no official reports of violence from the protest had been made.
Legacy media headlines throughout the week predicted that the trucker convoy was going to be Canada’s version of January 6th.
Much to the disappointment of those who had accused the convoy of being violent extremists, protestors were seen dancing, singing and peacefully waving their Canadian flags in an unprecedented showing of national pride and unity.
Here supporters can be seen dancing to the beat of a drum.
Is this the fringe minority about whom Justin Trudeau warned us? Dancing… in public? pic.twitter.com/t4gCWwcbTV
BREAKING: Frigid temperatures couldn’t stop Canadians from flooding the nation’s capital. Cries of freedom and cheers erupt from the crowd gathered in unity against Justin Trudeau. #Ottawa#ConvoyForFreedom2022pic.twitter.com/wO7JP2cSA5
True North founder Candice Malcolm joined Neil Oliver on GB News today to discuss the convoy and what it has meant to Canada and the world.
“I’m so proud of my fellow Canadians,” Malcolm told Oliver. “After two long years of being complacent and going along with the rules, doing exactly what we were told to do, we are finally coming together, we’re standing up and we are demanding that our voice be heard.”
Candice says this is Canada’s Brexit moment – Canadians are united and will no longer comply to heavy-handed government edicts. pic.twitter.com/WbVUq5ahSA
Joining in on the number of endorsements of the convoy by high profile figures was former US President Donald J. Trump. At his rally in Conroe, Texas, Trump said the truckers and its supporters were doing more for freedom than leaders in the US.
With opponents of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy working overtime to smear the tens of thousands of truckers and their supporters as violent extremists, convoy organizers have sent out a memo urging participants to be wary of any traps being laid for them.
According to the document obtained by True North, one of these traps is being driven by a comparison between the Canadian freedom convoy and the Jan. 6 2021 US Capitol riots in Washington, DC. The violent event saw US protestors swarm the Capitol Buildings in an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 Elections.
“The Government of Canada is… working hard to establish a ‘January 6th narrative’ whereby they will claim that the convoy is attempting to overthrow the state and then respond with both targeted and mass arrests,” the Freedom Convoy’s organizers stated on Friday.
They went on to warn participants:
a. Do not enter federal buildings under any circumstances, even if invited
b. Photograph and report anyone who advocates violence. Photos and videos should be sent directly to convoy organizers or the police of jurisdiction.
c. Be aware of anyone who joins up with you, and then starts steering the conversation towards hatred and/or violence. They could be either feds or individuals seeking violence.
The freedom convoy has galvanized Canadians across the country, gained the support of millions around the world and has done so in an unprecedented spirit of peaceful patriotism.
Despite this, the Trudeau government, the legacy media and a batch of cherry-picked“experts” have accused truckers of representing – or having been infiltrated by – far-right fringe elements bent on violence and hatred.
On Saturday, Trudeau was moved from Rideau Cottage to an undisclosed location over “security concerns.” Prior to the convoy reaching Ottawa, he went into self-isolation after supposedly being in contact with somebody who has COVID-19, despite not showing any symptoms and despite receiving a negative rapid test.
On Wednesday, Trudeau had called the convoy a “small fringe minority” holding “unacceptable views,” an opinion that received international condemnation.
In response to Trudeau’s accusations, convoy organizers have reminded participants that “Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberal Party received only 21% of all REGISTERED VOTERS in Canada…It is Justin Trudeau and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra who are the fringe minority in Canada. Most Canadians support you.”
“The Freedom Convoy is a unifying force which will not be tolerated by the so-called “elites” or the parasitic class which supports Trudeau at the national and international level.”
“It will put fear in the hearts of those who support globalism, Build Back Better, the Great Reset and/or progressivism.”
The convoy organizers anticipate the government’s smear tactics will only continue, “supported by the paid-for mainstream media in Canada,” and continuing “to focus on single individuals speaking out and then stating they represent the whole convoy.”
The campaign to stain the protest has continued on Saturday, but some of its efforts have already fallen apart. One CBC reporter who originally claimed he’d received hateful texts from a convoy organizer later admitted the messages had come from an unknown number.
Convoy organizers and supporters have stated from the beginning that anybody with radical views is not welcome to participate, and those found to be causing disruptions will be asked to leave or be reported to law enforcement.
The Truckers for Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa on Saturday, with protests and rallies planned throughout the weekend. Though the movement began in opposition to the Trudeau government’s vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers, it now calls for an end to all mandates, restrictions and lockdowns under COVID-19.
True North is on the ground in Ottawa and will post frequent updates.
Candice says this is Canada’s Brexit moment – Canadians are united and will no longer comply to heavy-handed government edicts. pic.twitter.com/WbVUq5ahSA
Truckers for Freedom Convoy spokesperson and co-organizer Benjamin Dichter appeared on Fox News’s Tucker Carlson Tonight on Thursday, telling Tucker Carlson truckers and their supporters were tired of being “treated like insects by the bureaucracy.”
Carlson is only the latest big name to lend support to the convoy, telling viewers, “Canada has just imposed a vaccine mandate for truckers – this in addition to so many other lunatic corona restrictions.”
Thousands of truckers in Canada have formed a convoy to protest the country's vaccine mandates. pic.twitter.com/vFmr9GrDyC
Adding that a group of truckers had enough and formed a convoy, Carlson threw to Dichter, who laid it all out for the American host.
“We’ve seen Canada go from a country of Justin Trudeau’s promises of sunny ways into dark authoritarian oppression and control,” said Dichter. “We want two things: To get rid of the vaccine mandates and the passports.”
Dichter said he crossed the Canada-US border for the first time a few days ago. He said he was going to hand the border agent his vaccine passport but that the officer said he did not need it.
He said that when he asked the border agent why. His cellphone popped up on the screen and was already linked with the vaccine passport, according to the border agent.
While it might seem outlandish, Dichter added, he wondered what was going to prevent the Canadian government from introducing this measure across Canada in places other than borders.
Prior to COVID-19, Dichter spent some time travelling through Alberta and Saskatchewan. He told Carlson that parts of these provinces looked like third-world countries.
“So now these people who have had their industries crushed, their lives crushed, COVID comes along and now they’re treated like insects by the bureaucracy,” he said.
The vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers took effect on Jan. 15. It removed existing exemptions for truckers from testing and quarantines, requiring they be fully vaccinated.
Truckers from across Canada organized Freedom Convoy 2022 to demand an end to vaccine mandates, lockdown measures and other restrictions.
All parts of the convoy are expected to have arrived in Ottawa by Saturday.
The Truckers for Freedom Convoy has reached Ottawa as tens of thousands gathered in front of the Parliament Buildings to call for an immediate end to COVID-19 restrictions and for a return of fundamental freedoms in Canada. Many thousands more are expected as the day continues.
Beginning in Western Canada on Sunday, the convoy was joined by tens of thousands of truck drivers as it made its way towards the nation’s capital, with separate contingents arriving from Southern Ontario, Eastern Canada and even the US.
All along the convoy’s route, in small towns and in cities, supporters lined the streets to cheer on the drivers and raise their voices in support of freedom.
Trucks began to pour into the capital on Friday and continued arriving well into Saturday morning with speeches and demonstrations planned throughout the weekend.
Police were spotted on the ground managing the roads and directing traffic. Those who want to join the protest are being asked to park on Wellington Street, in front of Parliament Hill.
The loud noise of air horns and honking joined with cheers as supporters hoisted signs critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and nation-wide lockdowns.
Legacy media outlets have attempted to portray the peaceful protestors as extremists and have even made comparisons to the Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Media reports have relied on cherry-picked comments from messaging apps and so-called “anti-hate experts” who profit off of maligning the freedom movement as far-right.
One CBC reporter who originally claimed he’d received hateful texts from a convoy organizer later admitted the messages had come from an unknown number.
Convoy organizers and supporters have stated that anybody with radical views is not welcome to participate, and those found to be causing disruptions will be asked to leave or be reported to law enforcement.
Quebec trucker André Landry came to Ottawa for the freedom convoy and has prime real estate – right in front of Centre Block. He explains what he's here seeking: "Freedom, to be like normal people." pic.twitter.com/6nFPBtBZWZ
Prior to the convoy reaching Ottawa, Trudeau went into self-isolation after supposedly being in contact with somebody who has COVID-19. Despite not showing any symptoms and receiving a negative rapid test, he has since been moved from Rideau Cottage to an undisclosed location over “security concerns.”
Eyes around the world are on the Canadian freedom movement as a number of international figures including Elon Musk, Joe Rogan and Donald Trump Jr. have all come out in support of truckers.
The convoy was instigated by the Liberal government’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for cross-border truck drivers, workers once considered essential to Canada’s pandemic response. As Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre told legacy media reporters on Thursday, truckers “have kept all of you alive for the last two years.”
Approximately 10% of the trucking industry has been impacted by the Liberal mandates, and experts have warned that it could cause significant disruptions to Canada’s already strained supply chain.
True North is on the ground in Ottawa and will post frequent updates throughout the weekend.
