'Freedom Convoy' organizer faces additional charge over TikTok video advising horn blowing

Crown prosecutors have laid an additional criminal charge against 'Freedom Convoy' organizer Chris Barber, alleging that he encouraged truckers to disobey a court order during the Ottawa protest in early 2022.

Crown prosecutors have laid an additional criminal charge against “Freedom Convoy” organizer Chris Barber, alleging that he encouraged truckers to disobey a court order during the Ottawa protest in early 2022.

The Saskatchewan truck driver and his co-accused, Tamara Lich, also face another six counts of other charges related to the protest, including mischief, counselling intimidation, counselling obstruction of police, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

On the date of the new alleged offence, Barber posted a video on his TikTok page that made reference to a court order issued two days earlier by Justice Hugh McLean that restricted the use of truck air horns in the city core.

Despite the injunction, Barber encouraged truckers to blow their horns if approached by a large number of police.

“Guys, lock that door, crawl into that bunk, but before you do that, grab that horn switch and don’t let go,” Barber advised in the TikTok video.

“Let that f***ing horn go no matter what time it is and let it roll as long as possible, until they are busting your f***ing windows down.”

A revised charge sheet filed by the Crown specifies that the offence Barber allegedly counselled was not committed – that is, no one violated the court order based on his advice.