Chris Barber and Tamara Lich, two of the top organizers for the peaceful Canadian Freedom Convoy, were arrested by Ottawa police and could face criminal charges.
At this point, however, there is no evidence to confirm if Barber and Lich will be eligible for bail.
When asked about Barber’s arrest, Ottawa police said they cannot confirm or deny investigations about people until they are charged, CBC reported.
Barber, who was arrested Thursday, previously said in a press release that politicians refused to employ in “serious dialogue” about the prime minister’s mask mandates.
Lich, who started the now-defunct GoFundMe account which raised $10 million for the Freedom Convoy, said on Wednesday that she anticipated her arrest, and thanked those who supported and stood alongside her.
“There’s a pretty good chance—well I think it’s inevitable at this point—but I’ll probably be going somewhere tomorrow where I’ll be getting three square meals a day, and that’s okay,” she said in a video posted to social media.
Lich was arrested in Ottawa on Thursday evening shortly after Barber.
“Hold the line,” she yelled as police apprehended her.
Authorities are now reportedly setting up police checkpoints in downtown Ottawa, and will begin arresting protestors.
The Ottawa police tweeted that protestors “will face severe penalties” if they do not “cease further unlawful activity” and remove their vehicles and property from “all unlawful protest sites.”
The arrests follow Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, which gives government the authority to freeze bank accounts of Freedom Convoy protestors, or those suspected of protesting, without a warrant.
Canadians who donated to the protestors could also have their bank accounts frozen, and protesting truckers may have their vehicle insurance suspended.
“This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs,” Trudeau said on Monday. He also announced that police would be given “more tools” to crack down on protestors.
Ironically, Trudeau argued that he is protecting jobs while simultaneously firing truckers who do not comply with his vaccine and mask mandates.
Meanwhile, Trudeau’s Justice Minister David Lametti declared Wednesday that Canadians who support U.S. President Trump “oughta be worried” about having their bank accounts frozen.
“I think if you are a member of a pro-Trump movement who’s donating hundreds of thousands of dollars and millions of dollars to this this kind of thing, they oughta be worried,” Lametti told CBC.
However, protestors are not giving up; they are still fighting Canada’s Covid-19 vaccination and mask mandates for truckers.
Numerous critics have also accused Trudeau of gross hypocrisy for his vehement support of the protesting farmers in India who blocked major highways in New Delhi for over a year.
“Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protests,” Trudeau said at the time.
Meanwhile, Trudeau called the peaceful protesters in his own country “people who wave swastikas.” Ever since they arrived in Ottawa, he has attempted to crush the demonstrations.
This is a developing story. RSBN will continue to provide updates on the protesting Canadian Freedom Convoy.