“Hold the line,” Convoy organizer Tamara Lich tells Truckers

Freedom Convoy 2022 organizer Tamara Lich Photo: Freedom Convoy 2022/FB

On February 14th, shortly before Justin Trudeau announced at a press conference that he was invoking the Emergency Measures Act, organizer Tamara Lich addressed a separate event with the remarks below.

This transcript is complete and uneditted.

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“I’m honored to be sitting next to the last surviving founder of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the very document that is now being used against the people it was designed to protect. The federal government is planning to invoke the never-before-used Emergency Measures Act.

First of all, we are not afraid. In fact, every time the government decides to further suspend our civil liberties, our resolve strengthens, and the importance of our mission becomes clear. We will remain peaceful, but planted on Parliament Hill until the mandates are decisively handed.

We recognize that there is a democratic process within which change occurs. We have never stepped outside of that process; nor do we intend to. All Canadians should be surprised, no matter your political opinions, that such an extreme measure could be used against a peaceful demonstration. We have countless vulnerable people in our crowd, including children, the elderly, and the disabled, who cannot be met with force by a genuine liberal democracy.

The right to peaceful protest is sacrosanct to our nation. If that principle is abandoned, the government will reveal itself as a true tyranny, and it will lose all of its credibility. In that unfortunate situation, we have faith that those politicians, police officers, and military will listen to their consciences.

"To our truckers and friends on Parliament Hill, do not give in to fear and threats. 
Your courage has already exceeded all of our expectations and inspired an international movement. 
Be strong, show kindness. Love will always defeat hate. Hold the line."

Remember, “I’m just following orders” has always been an excuse used by those who ignore their moral intuition. But we have faith in you, Canada, to do the right thing. Do not let this become a dark moment in our history.

I want to now address all Canadians: we love you all.

Some of you might oppose our grievances. However, democratic society will always have non-trivial disagreements and righteous dissidents. There are many reasons for us opposing the mandates: some of us have been have been mistreated by our government, including many of our indigenous communities, who have personally experienced medical malpractice.

Some of us simply want bodily autonomy and oppose the mandates on principled grounds. No matter our reasons and opinions, it is how the government responds to its citizens that determines the fate of the country. Listen to your hearts, Canadians. Is the Emergency Act the right response to our demonstrations of love and freedom?

 Now, I want to address the Prime Minister. No matter what you do, we will hold the line. There are no threats that will frighten us, we will hold the line.

Lastly, to our truckers and friends on Parliament Hill, do not give in to fear and threats. Your courage has already exceeded all of our expectations and inspired an international movement. Be strong, show kindness. Love will always defeat hate. Hold the line.”