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Charges against Parliament Hill’s “Peace Man” withdrawn

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News release from The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms

He brought no vehicle and blocked no roads…. he was in the nation’s capital to encourage dialogue between the government and protestors.

The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that the charges against Dana-Lee Melfi, popularly known as “Peace Man,” were withdrawn on January 23, 2024.   The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act on February 14, 2022. Mr. Melfi, who was in the nation’s capital during the Freedom Convoy protest, was arrested on February 19, 2022, during the police crackdown on protestors. He was charged with mischief, mischief to property, disobeying a lawful order, and obstructing justice.  Peace Man was conspicuous in the crowd with his striking appearance. His flowing, grey hair and beard, sunglasses, and cameras drew significant media attention. Each day he would take up a peaceful stance near Parliament Hill, either draped in or carrying a large Canadian flag, to greet passersby with the two-fingered peace sign. He brought no vehicle and blocked no roads. He had said in various media interviews, with outlets like Canadian PressNew York TimesWashington PostEpoch Times, and many independent media, that he was in the nation’s capital to encourage dialogue between the government and protestors. Mr. Melfi’s trial was scheduled for the week of January 22, 2024. Just days prior to the trial, a large number of social media videos were disclosed by the Crown as evidence against Mr. Melfi. Mr. Melfi’s lawyer, Monick Grenier, notified the Crown that she was contemplating filing a Late Disclosure Application if she was not successful in having the evidence excluded. Ms. Grenier was prepared to appeal to Section 24(2) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which requires courts to exclude evidence from a trial if it can be established that its admission would bring the administration of justice into disrepute. She also raised the possibility of filing a Jordan Application, which protects Canadians from unreasonable trial delays.   Adding to this complexity, the parties were advised the week before the trial that the Court was double booked. Mr. Melfi would not have been at fault for either potential delay. In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that trials must be heard within 18 months of charges being laid in accordance with the Chartersection 11(b) right of Canadians “to be tried within a reasonable time.” What is commonly referred to as the “Freedom Convoy” protest has since, in fact, been recognized in another court proceeding as a combination of as many as 13 different protests. Mr. Melfi always considered himself to be carrying out his own personal protest.   Monick Grenier, counsel for Mr. Melfi, stated, “My client stood in peace throughout the protest. After his arrest, Mr. Melfi was set to advance breaches of his rights under sections 8, 9 and 10 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are pleased with this outcome. “

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Freedom Convoy’s Tamara Lich shares heartfelt letter from children: ‘God will be by your side’

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From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Ahead of the announcement of the verdict from her trial in Canada, the Freedom Convoy co-leader posted on X the ‘beautiful letter’ from a 4-year-old and 8-year-old.

With a few weeks until a verdict is released, Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich shared a heartwarming letter she received from a child, who told her to “keep fighting” for everyone and that “God will protect” her from the “enemy.”

Lich shared an image of the letter Thursday on X, writing, “Feels like a good day to share this beautiful letter I received from some very wise children.”

The letter, which was handwritten and sent to Lich by 4-year-old Zavier and 8-year-old Alanis, has the title “God loves You.”

“Thank you for fighting for everyones FREEDOM. God will be by your side and God will protect you from the enemy,” the letter reads.

“With God everything is possible. Stay strong we are praying for you every step of the journey.”

Lich was arrested on February 17, 2022, in Ottawa. Co-leader Chris Barber was arrested the same day.

Lich and Barber’s trial concluded in September 2024, more than a year after it began. It was originally scheduled to last 16 days.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich and Barber’s verdict will be announced on March 12.

They both face a possible 10-year prison sentence. LifeSiteNews reported extensively on their trial.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich recently spelled out how much the Canadian government has spent prosecuting her and Barber for their role in the protests. She said at least $5 million in “taxpayer dollars” has been spent thus far, with her and Barber’s legal costs being above $750,000.

In early 2022, the Freedom Convoy saw thousands of Canadians from coast to coast come to Ottawa to demand an end to COVID mandates in all forms. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government enacted the never-before-used Emergencies Act (EA) on February 14, 2022.

During the clear-out of protesters after the EA was put in place, one protester, an elderly lady, was trampled by a police horse and one conservative female reporter was beaten by police and shot with a tear gas canister.

Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23.

The EA controversially allowed the government to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in assemblies the government deemed illegal.

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Red Deer Freedom Convoy protestor Pat King given 3 months of house arrest

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From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ruled that Pat King must serve three months of house arrest and dedicate 100 hours to community service for his participation in the 2022 Freedom Convoy

Freedom Convoy participant Pat King has been given a 3-month conditional sentence for his role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest against COVID mandates.  

On February 19, Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ruled that King must serve three additional months of house arrest and dedicate 100 hours to community service for his role in the Freedom Convoy. King’s sentence would have been 12 months, but the court gave him credit for time served prior to his trial. 

“In the court’s opinion, there is a social harm to unduly elevating the sentencing rules of denunciation and deterrence in the context of political protests to result in punitive sentences at the top of the sentencing range,” Hackland wrote, explaining why he did not opt to sentence King to a whopping 10-year prison sentence, as the Crown prosecutors had advocated for.

“The risk is that an overly severe sentence of imprisonment in the context of legitimate, constitutionally protected activity can have the effect of creating a chill or fear of participation in political expression,” he continued. 

In November, King was found guilty of two counts of disobeying a court order, one count of mischief, one count of counselling others to commit mischief, as well as one count of counselling others to obstruct police.   

King’s charges are in relation to his role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy which featured thousands of Canadians camping out in downtown Ottawa to call for an end to the COVID regulations and vaccine mandates in place at the time.  

Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government enacted the Emergencies Act on February 14, 2022, to put an end to the popular convoy. Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23, but only after using the powers granted by the legislation to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in the assembly.  

The two main Freedom Convoy leaders, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, are still awaiting their verdicts for their involvement in the 2022 protests. Like King, if convicted, they face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

While some of the most notable people involved in the protest, like Lich and Barber, face a slew of charges that come with potentially harsh sentences, other protesters charged for participating have seen their charges dropped.

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