OTTAWA, Ontario — A key figure from the 2022 trucker protests in Canada, which were intended to oppose COVID-19 measures, has been convicted on multiple charges, including mischief and defying a court order.
On Friday, a judge confirmed that Pat King was guilty of various offenses: one count of mischief, one count of counseling others to commit mischief, one count of counseling obstruction of police, and two counts of disobeying a court order. He may face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The protests involved large gatherings, where hundreds to thousands of participants filled the streets of Ottawa and surrounded Parliament Hill for three weeks in early 2022. Their demonstrations were primarily against vaccine mandates for truck drivers and other health precautions, as well as dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal administration.
The so-called Freedom Convoy extended its protests to blockades at U.S.-Canada border crossings.
Prosecutors asserted that King played a leadership role in the demonstrations that led to substantial disruption in Ottawa. They claimed he was responsible for organizing various disruptive activities, such as coordinating loud horn honking sessions every half hour for ten minutes and instructing protesters to maintain their positions despite police and city demands to vacate the area.
The primary evidence that the prosecution presented came from King’s own videos posted on social media throughout the protests, which he used to document the events and communicate with participants.
In response, King’s defense team contended that he was merely exercising his right to protest peacefully and was not among the primary leaders of the demonstration.
He was acquitted of three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing law enforcement.
The trucker convoy led to a blockade of downtown Ottawa, causing significant disruption for local residents who reported disturbances from incessant diesel fumes and constant noise from honking horns and party music.
In reaction to the escalating situation, the Trudeau administration invoked the Emergencies Act to dissolve the protests while bringing in hundreds of law enforcement officers from various agencies across Canada.
Initially focused on opposing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truck drivers, the protests evolved to express broader anger towards COVID-19 restrictions and a general disdain for Trudeau, reflecting the growing discontent fueled by misinformation and right-wing populism in Canada.
The Freedom Convoy not only challenged Canada’s reputation for orderliness but also inspired similar movements abroad in places like France, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The protests particularly disrupted economic activities, including blocking one of the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossings between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit—a route that facilitates over 25% of trade between these two neighboring countries.