The criminal trial of Pat King, one of the most prominent figures associated with the “Freedom Drive” demonstration, is scheduled to begin Monday in Ottawa.
Mr. King was among the original group of organizers of the rally where thousands of trucks and other vehicles massed in Ottawa in January 2022 to show their opposition to health restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More broadly, the demonstrators were also against the work of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government.
For weeks, the smell of diesel fumes permeated the city center of the federal capital, as crowds chanted “freedom” to a raucous chorus of horns at all hours of the day and night.
Protesters blocked intersections around Parliament Hill and surrounding areas. They set up camps with food tents and made open fires.
Local politicians described the state of downtown Ottawa during the protest as an illegal occupation, as several businesses closed their doors and residents reported feeling uncomfortable leaving their homes.
Mr. King was outspoken throughout the protest and documented his experience with frequent livestreams on social media. Many of these videos are expected to be entered into evidence at his trial.
He is accused of mischief, advising others to commit misdeeds, disobeying a court order and obstructing the work of police officers due to his role in the demonstration, which ultimately ended. ended with a massive police operation.
The federal government also invoked the Emergency Measures Act to try to force protesters off the streets.
Police arrested Pat King on February 18, 2022, the day they began their operation to evict protesters from the area around the parliamentary precinct.
Mr King was detained for five months after his arrest, before eventually being released on bail. He then returned to Alberta.
The Ontario Superior Court has set aside three weeks to hear evidence and arguments in the case.