Christopher John Barber Explained

Chris Barber
Birth Name:Christopher John Barber
Birth Date:1975 or 1976
Citizenship:Canadian
Occupation:Trucking company owner and operator
Known For:Canada convoy protest co-organiser

Christopher John Barber (born in 1975 or 1976), and usually known as Chris Barber, is a Canadian trucking company operator, and activist who co-led the Canadian convoy protest. He was arrested on February 17, 2022 and released on bail the next day. His courtroom defence had yet to be heard as of January 2024.[1]

He gave evidence at the Public Order Emergency Commission in November 2022, speaking about his power struggles with fellow organizer Pat King.

Career

Christopher John Barber[2] is a truck driver from Swift Current, Saskatchewan[3] [4] who operates his own trucking company, C. B. Trucking Limited.[5] [6]

Activism

Barber is vaccinated against COVID19,[7] but considers vaccine mandates to be government tyranny.[8] He has two confederate flags hanging in his home, which he described on a TikTok broadcast as a "piece of cloth." Barber operates two TikTok accounts BigRed1975 and ChrisBarber1975.[9] Barber describes himself as an "internet troll."[10]

Along with Pat King and Tamara Lich, Barber was one of three main organisers of the Canadian convoy protest.[11] In January 2022, he spoke of his ambition to persuade politicians to end vaccine mandates.[12] On February 2, in the context of noise complaints from Ottawa residents, he released the written statement: "Our message to the citizens of Ottawa is one of empathy".[13]

Criminal charges

Barber was arrested February 17, 2022, near Parliament Hill.[14] Earlier the same week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had invoked the Emergencies Act, as part of a strategy to end the protest.[15] Barber was charged with counselling to commit mischief, counselling to disobey a court order, and counselling to obstruct police. The next day,[16] he was released from custody, on bail and ordered to leave Ottawa and to avoid contact with Tamara Lich and Pat King.[17] Barber's court appearance is scheduled for September 5, 2023 and is expected to last 16 days.[18]

During the November 2022 Public Order Emergency Commission, Barber spoke of his tension and power struggle with fellow organiser Pat King.[19] He also spoke about his own racist and anti-muslim internet posts.[20]

In March 2023, government prosecutors were accused of malice after phone records between Chris Barber and Lich were briefly released online. Content included personal details and business communications unconnected to the convoy protest. Barber's legal team, with support from The Crown, secured a publication ban to protect both his and Lich's privacy. The Crown stated that the data release was an oversight.[21]

In April 2023, Barber pled not guilty to the criminal charge of counselling others to disobey a court, based on activities he undertook in February of the same year.[22]

In January 2024 the CBC said that he faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, for the mischief charge.[1]

Personal life

Barber is married to his wife,[23] and has a son and daughter. They live in Saskatchewan.

He was aged 46 in February 2022.[24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Fraser . David . 4 January 2024 . Tamara Lich, Chris Barber convoy trial to resume for 1 day only . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104125710/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/tamara-lich-chris-barber-convoy-trial-schedule-1.7073476 . 4 January 2024 . 15 May 2024 . CBC News.
  2. Web site: 'Freedom Convoy' organizers Barber, Lich charged by Ottawa police . 2022-07-22 . CityNews Ottawa . en . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722114857/https://ottawa.citynews.ca/local-news/freedom-convoy-organizers-barber-lich-charged-by-ottawa-police-5078746 . live .
  3. Web site: McGregor . Glen . Gray . Mackenzie . Gowling . Jordan . 2022-07-04 . Former Sask. premier Brad Wall gave strategic advice to key convoy organizer . 2022-07-22 . CTVNews . en . July 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220716113637/https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/former-sask-premier-brad-wall-gave-strategic-advice-to-key-convoy-organizer-1.5973718 . live .
  4. Web site: Zammit . David . 20 Jan 2022 . Freedom convoy: truckers protesting COVID mandates travel to Ottawa . 2022-07-22 . SwiftCurrentOnline . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722022258/https://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/articles/freedom-convoy-truckers-protesting-covid-mandates-travel-to-ottawa . live .
  5. Web site: Convoy organizer Chris Barber files Charter application in mischief case . 2022-10-31 . ottawacitizen . en-CA . September 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920213337/http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/convoy-organizer-chris-barber-files-charter-application-in-mischief-case . live .
  6. Web site: CPAC - For the Record . 2022-11-05 . www.cpac.ca . November 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221102035202/https://www.cpac.ca/episode?id=9eabb6d7-1621-45be-b8a8-9168b644bc43 . live .
  7. News: Freeze . Colin . 2022-02-11 . Convoy protests' key figures count liberal ideas, 'political Islam,' Ottawa's indifference toward the West among their grievances . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . 2022-07-22 . March 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301005408/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-a-look-at-the-main-organizers-behind-ottawas-protests/ . live .
  8. Web site: 2022-02-10 . Who is who? A guide to the major players in the trucker convoy protest . 2022-07-22 . CTVNews . en . March 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220309125854/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/who-is-who-a-guide-to-the-major-players-in-the-trucker-convoy-protest-1.5776441 . live .
  9. Web site: Leavitt . Kieran . McKeen . Alex . 2022-01-24 . Truckers convoy: How a TikToker, oil advocates and a Wexit organizer helped fire up the 'Freedom Rally' that's heading to Ottawa . 2022-07-22 . thestar.com . en . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722022258/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/01/24/convoy-of-truck-drivers-protesting-vaccine-mandates-continue-trek-to-ottawa-as-supporters-praise-modern-day-blue-collar-soldiers.html . live .
  10. News: Tasker . John Paul . 1 Nov 2022 . Convoy inquiry hears of death threat against Freeland as organizer describes 'power struggle' among protesters . CBC . "self professed internet troll Chris Barber" (in video) . November 4, 2022 . November 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221104221832/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freedom-convoy-chris-barber-power-struggle-1.6636737?cmp=rss . live .
  11. News: Frizzell . Sara . Yogaretnam . Shaamini . 17 Feb 2022 . Convoy protest organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber, Pat King arrested in Ottawa . CBC . July 22, 2022 . July 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220716042819/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/tamara-lich-chris-barber-arrested-ottawa-1.6355960 . live .
  12. Web site: 31 Jan 2022 . 'We just need some answers:' Sask. trucker vows to stay in Ottawa . 2022-07-22 . 650 CKOM . en . February 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202044656/https://www.ckom.com/2022/01/31/we-just-need-some-answers-sask-trucker-vows-to-stay-in-ottawa/ . live .
  13. News: 2 Feb 2022 . Protest organizers dig in and say only politicians can clear Ottawa's downtown . CBC . July 22, 2022 . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722015254/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-convoy-protest-organizers-end-1.6336289 . live .
  14. Web site: ROB GILLIES, WILSON RING and ROBERT BUMSTED . 17 Feb 2022 . Canadian police arrest 2 leaders as truckers stand ground . 2022-07-22 . ABC News . en . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722022259/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/truckers-brace-police-crackdown-besieged-ottawa-82953545 . live .
  15. News: Villarreal . Daniel . 17 Feb 2022 . Canadian Trucker Convoy Organizers Barber, Lich Arrested, in Custody . Newsweek . July 22, 2022 . June 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627104951/https://www.newsweek.com/canadian-trucker-convoy-organizer-chris-barber-arrested-custody-1680429 . live .
  16. Web site: Lord . Craig . 18 Feb 2022 . 'Freedom convoy' organizer Chris Barber to be released on bail Globalnews.ca . 2022-07-22 . Global News . en-US . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722015506/https://globalnews.ca/news/8630299/freedom-convoy-organizers-lich-barber-to-appear-in-ottawa-court-friday/ . live .
  17. News: Hunter . Adam . 5 July 2022 . Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall texted advice to convoy organizer, CTV report says . CBC . July 22, 2022 . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722015148/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-wall-convoy-1.6510945 . live .
  18. Web site: Osman . Laura . 30 Aug 2022 . Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber to face trial in September 2023 . 2022-09-01 . CityNews Ottawa . en . August 30, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220830210414/https://ottawa.citynews.ca/local-news/convoy-organizers-tamara-lich-and-chris-barber-to-face-trial-in-september-2023-5757256 . live .
  19. News: 2022-11-23 . Emergencies Act: Canada 'Freedom Convoy' power struggles laid bare . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-11-24 . November 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221124042135/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63736482 . live .
  20. News: McLeod . Marsha . Walsh . Marieke . 2022-11-01 . Convoy protest organizer Chris Barber tells Emergencies Act inquiry that other leader's violent comments were not a concern . en-CA . The Globe and Mail . 2022-11-06 . November 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221106021011/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-emergencies-act-chris-barber/ . live .
  21. Web site: Ballingall . Alex . 2023-03-08 . 'Freedom Convoy' leader's phone records were released accidentally, Crown lawyer says . 2023-03-28 . . en . March 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328234527/https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2023/03/08/i-didnt-intentionally-release-freedom-convoy-leaders-cellphone-records-crown-lawyer-says.html . live .
  22. News: 24 April 2023 . Convoy organizer Chris Barber pleads not guilty to new criminal charge . CBC . April 25, 2023 . April 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424185219/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/chris-barber-court-criminal-charge-1.6820351 . live .
  23. Web site: Ibrahim . Erika . 2022-07-09 . 'Freedom Convoy' organizers discussed playing 'race card' with Metis heritage . 2022-07-22 . CP24 . en . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722015148/https://www.cp24.com/news/freedom-convoy-organizers-discussed-playing-race-card-with-metis-heritage-1.5980926?cache=%3FclipId%3D373266 . live .
  24. Web site: 'Freedom Convoy' leader says he just wants to go home after spending night in jail . 2022-07-22 . ottawacitizen . en-CA . September 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220928191835/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/freedom-convoy-leader-says-he-just-wants-to-go-home-after-spending-night-in-jail . live .

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