TDF secures legal win for man accused of participating in Windsor bridge blockade
Eric Lemmon was charged with one count of disobeying a court order and mischief after being accused of participating in the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge in February 2022.
Lemmon was set to head to trial in August, however, the crown prosecutor withdrew the charges Tuesday after informing Justice Le Roy of the Ontario Court of Justice that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.
According to a Tuesday afternoon press release from the civil liberties charity, The Democracy Fund:
Alan Honner, TDF’s litigation director and lead counsel on this matter, says that the crown withdrew the charges after the defence disclosed their theory that Mr. Lemmon was on the sidewalk, as well as video evidence supporting that theory.
“This is a case where the crown and defence worked together to achieve the right result,” says Honner.
The Ambassador Bridge, Canada's busiest land crossing with the United States was blocked in early February 2022 by peaceful anti-mandate protesters demanding an end to COVID restrictions.
David Menzies and Isabelle Rivo were live from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario earlier today.https://t.co/pHWGiHgKoM
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 13, 2022
Anti-mandate demonstrations were ended when the Liberal government invoked a never-before-used counter-terrorism law.
We have said all along that 'economic harm' is not grounds for the invocation of the #EmergenciesAct.
— Canadian Civil Liberties Association (@cancivlib) November 24, 2022
The Emergencies Act and the CSIS Act do not contemplate economic harm as a national emergency.#EmergenciesActInquiry #POEC #cdnpoli
Reaction to @cafreeland @POECommission👇 pic.twitter.com/3MxXtWXwGg
The Emergencies Act was used to arrest protest leaders and seize the assets and bank accounts of those participating or supporting in the public civil disobedience at Windsor and in the nation's capital of Ottawa.
BREAKING: Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie attacked by Ottawa police
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 19, 2022
MORE: https://t.co/pOvgqYCU4q pic.twitter.com/rgDaYdbnEt
The Democracy Fund is a registered Canadian charity that engages in litigation and education. All donations to The Democracy Fund qualify for a charitable tax receipt!
Sheila Gunn Reid
Chief Reporter
Sheila Gunn Reid is the Alberta Bureau Chief for Rebel News and host of the weekly The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid. She's a mother of three, conservative activist, and the author of best-selling books including Stop Notley.