(Ottawa) Paul Jorgenson, an Ottawa resident, felt “threatened” during the “freedom convoy” protests in the winter of 2022, he said Tuesday during his testimony at the trial of two organizers.
Five residents of the federal capital called to the stand by the prosecution at the trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber testified for the Crown about the infernal and incessant noise coming from horns and truck engines, as well as the persistent smell of fumes from diesel during the demonstration.
Mr. Jorgenson told the court on Tuesday that the noise and odors emitted by stopped vehicles prevented him from teleworking from his downtown home: he therefore left Ottawa for more than a week.
He claimed that trucks were blocking the entrance to his parking lot and that he had to climb onto the sidewalk to get out.
When he returned, he said, the protest was still underway and he had difficulty obtaining food at grocery stores and restaurants in downtown Ottawa.
He told the court he felt “threatened” when a group of five or six people he identified as protesters questioned the fact he was wearing a mask while walking outside with his companion.
Mr. Jorgenson said he later felt compelled to help counter-protesters block convoy traffic near the Canadian Museum of Nature, a short drive from the main protest hub.
It was “absolutely terrifying” blocking traffic for several hours, he said. “I had never experienced such a level of distress. »
Cross-examination
Under cross-examination, defense attorneys asked Mr. Jorgenson to specify the number of vehicles he said were parked in front of the entrance to his parking lot. The witness responded that the street near the parking lot was full of pickup trucks and cars, and that he could not get around them with his vehicle.
The lawyers also asked whether Mr. Jorgenson, to get food after his return to Ottawa, had considered going to the many grocery stores or convenience stores located outside the city center, but within a few minutes’ walk of his home.
He said he knew of a Whole Foods grocery store not far from his home, but hadn’t visited it because it was too cold to walk and he felt intimidated by protesters on the street .
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, two of the organizers of the “Freedom Convoy,” are facing charges related to their roles in organizing the weeks-long protest against COVID-19 public health restrictions. They are notably accused of mischief and of having advised others to commit misdeeds.
Crown prosecutors are trying to prove that the two co-accused influenced and encouraged the protesters, while raising money for the demonstrations.
Police officer Isabelle Cyr, who served as a liaison between Ottawa police and protesters in those weeks, is expected to take the stand on Wednesday. She was scheduled to testify Tuesday, but defense attorneys said they needed time to review notes and emails exchanged between her and fellow officers during the protests.