Freedom Convoy organizers prepare for sentencing as Crown seeks 8 years
Sheila Gunn Reid and David Menzies weigh in on Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber facing severe prison terms following the 2022 anti-mandate protest.
More than three years after the Freedom Convoy was brought to a violent end by police, protest organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber will finally be sentenced this week, having been previously convicted of mischief charges for their role in the 2022 anti-mandate demonstration.
Both co-accused are facing stiff sentences, with Lich looking at the possibility of seven years and Barber eight, in addition to the loss of his signature “Big Red” truck.
On Monday's Rebel Roundup livestream, hosts Sheila Gunn Reid and David Menzies weighed in on the political persecution of the pair.
Reflecting on how an image of Lich speaking to the police liaison team during the protest, alongside her lawyer, Keith Wilson, Sheila said “she's not some hardened, seasoned criminal who should spend seven years in jail — she's somebody who did her best to make sure that her protest adhered to the laws by working with police every single day.”
Despite the protest being directed largely at the federal government, the prosecution of the case has fallen to the Ontario justice system.
“These are not Mark Carney's Crown prosecutors; these are Doug Ford's Crown prosecutors,” Sheila added.
“Is there any difference” between the Liberal prime minister and the so-called Conservative Ontario premier, David wondered.
Speculating about what sentence will be handed to the two convoy organizers, David warned that if the presiding justice “has aspirations of, in the future, being named to the Supreme Court of Canada, you know that that means the book will be thrown” at the pair.
“I would have more confidence if this was a jury trial,” he said.
Lich and Barber are expected to be sentenced on July 23. Rebel News boss Ezra Levant will be in Ottawa, covering the ruling as it happens.
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COMMENTS
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Fran G commented 2025-08-05 13:01:07 -0400I wish powerful people in US would get wind of this extreme injustice. Does anybody have friends or relatives in US that would get the word out? How about Jordan Carlson, other US online journalists, etc -
Bernhard Jatzeck commented 2025-07-21 21:31:26 -0400They defied The Party and The Party is never wrong. -
Bruce Atchison commented 2025-07-21 21:07:16 -0400Vengeful bastards are what these federal government bureaucrats are. When murderers get lesser sentences than Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, this country’s in huge trouble.
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Robert Pariseau commented 2025-07-21 18:34:24 -0400This isn’t about fairness; it’s about making an example out of the faces of a grassroots movement that dared to challenge a 22-month decree.
And it’s precisely why not a finger is being lifted nor a peep being made about the invaders.