Convoy organizers discussed playing ‘race card’ with Lich’s Métis heritage

Organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” mentioned utilizing their ties to Métis identification to play the “race card” as a part of an total technique to manage their public picture and garner sympathy for his or her trigger, textual content messages recommend.

The messages between Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, obtained by Ottawa police and entered as proof by the Crown in Lich’s bail listening to this week, point out how acutely conscious the organizers had been of the optics of the protest.

The convoy’s connection to Pat King, who has unfold racist conspiracy theories, in addition to the looks of Nazi and Accomplice flags within the early days of the protest, prompted accusations that it was sympathetic to white nationalist causes.

Whereas planning the convoy, Lich and Barber appeared conscious that racial identification might be raised in criticisms of it. Lich has described herself as Métis, and on Jan. 20, a few week earlier than demonstrators arrived in Ottawa, Barber texted Lich that his spouse was Métis as nicely.

“It’s going to work in our favour,” replied Lich. “Taking part in the race card works each methods lol.”

That very same day, Lich congratulated Barber on his interview on a podcast, describing it as very “PC” — or politically appropriate — “but in addition direct.”

Barber stated to Lich on Jan. 22 that every one of his years of “social media trolling” had been going to repay. “I’ll spin and use all of it in opposition to them,” he stated in reference to these critiquing the convoy.

The protest in opposition to COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal authorities swarmed the capital’s downtown with giant vans, blocking streets and blaring loud horns for greater than three weeks. Protesters additionally blockaded a number of border crossings. All of it prompted the federal authorities to invoke the Emergencies Act and the police to make use of pressure to clear the group.

For his or her position within the protest, Lich and Barber have been charged with mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation.

Barber stays out on bail, whereas a justice of the peace dominated Friday that Lich had breached a launch situation and revoked her bail.

At Lich’s bail listening to this week, Barber’s lawyer was granted a publication ban on courtroom paperwork exhibiting his cellphone communications, aside from these with Lich.

Diane Magas, counsel for Barber, stated the Crown’s submission might lack the total context or intent of the messages, and might be deceptive or inaccurately interpreted.

The 4,000-page doc filed with the courtroom says it consists of all messages — numbering within the 1000’s — discovered on Barber’s cellphone. Dozens are instantly between Barber and Lich, not together with group chats.

Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, declined to touch upon the messages outdoors courtroom on Friday.

The conversations between the pair seem to light up their shifting emotions about King. He’s recognized for enhancing the white nationalist “nice alternative concept,” predicated on an nervousness that white individuals are being changed.

King stays in an Ottawa jail on prices of mischief, intimidation, obstructing police, disobeying a courtroom order, perjury and obstruction of justice.

His lawyer has not but responded to requests for remark.

On Jan. 22, Lich informed Barber they should have “a really frank dialogue” with King, elevating issues about previous allegations in opposition to him.

Regardless of these issues, Lich additionally stated he was wanted by the motion — in obvious distinction to later statements through which the convoy tried to distance itself from King.

“We want him and I don’t care about his previous nevertheless it solely takes one,” she stated. “Now we have to manage his rhetoric. Not even threatening to throw snowballs on the parliament (sic).”

“I do know he’s had points. I’ve received skeletons within the closet to (sic),” Barber replied.

However just a few days later, on Jan. 26, Lich stated if King “doesn’t cease now and proper now he must go residence.”

“Actually I hate to do it. I consider part of his coronary heart is on this for the suitable causes however he’ll convey down this entire factor.”

On Jan. 29, the day after the convoy arrived within the capital, Barber messaged Lich about an interview King had executed.

“I’m involved he’s placing us in a foul gentle. Is he supposed to talk in the present day?? I’m nervous what he’s gonna say,” he stated.

“No. He isn’t talking. Interval. Now we have individuals that may take care of him,” stated Lich.

A textual content message from Lich to Barber on Jan. 30 stated she had acquired a name from the “command centre” that had a “technique to gridlock the town.”

“Are you able to head over there with me quickly,” she requested Barber. “I don’t need to make these choices alone.”

Throughout this era, some Conservative MPs cheered the arrival of the convoy, because the celebration opposed the Trudeau authorities’s vaccine mandates for federal staff and travellers.

On Jan. 31, Tory MP Marilyn Gladu posted a photograph to social media of herself and caucus colleague Candice Bergen at a restaurant with two males Gladu described as “hard-working truckers in Ottawa.”

Erin O’Toole’s reluctance to stake out a transparent place on the protest was among the many causes a majority of his caucus ousted him on Feb. 2 and changed him with Bergen as interim chief.

A pair days later, Lich wrote, “Candace Bergen (sic) desires to satisfy quickly. What (do) you suppose?”

Barber didn’t instantly reply to the query. The following day, Lich expressed enthusiasm for showing on an American media outlet.

“We have to be on Fox at 6:30,” she wrote.

Christopher Martin-Chan, a spokesman for Bergen, stated finally no assembly occurred between convoy representatives and the interim chief.

Conservative MP Glen Motz had been talking with Lich and was prepared to behave as liaison to have MPs hearken to her issues. He recommended conferences with Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, stated Martin-Chan.

Motz confirmed he spoke instantly with Lich “in an effort to resolve the continuing protest,” and tried to facilitate a gathering with the ministers.

“Sadly, after a number of conversations with each ministers, they declined any decision assembly with the protest organizer,” he stated, including he believes if the Liberal authorities had taken that assembly, the protest would have been resolved in another way.

Alghabra’s workplace stated in a press release that it was not “not acceptable or accountable to Canadians to satisfy with people who blocked our borders, harm our economic system, and terrorized the residents of downtown Ottawa.”

A spokesman for Mendicino echoed these sentiments.

After the ministers declined to satisfy, Motz stated he tried organising a gathering between Lich and Bergen, which Lich’s authorized crew declined as “decision would solely be helpful if it included the federal government.”

Ottawa police, with assist from police forces from throughout Canada, cleared the protesters out of the capital in a large operation starting Feb. 18.