Recent posts on social media indicate another convoy is being planned in Alberta on Friday in protest of charges laid against three Coutts border "organizers." ."Trudeau's government demands up to 10 years prison for Coutts protestors," reads one of the circulating posts. "We need your support." . Freedom protesters planning another Alberta convoy Nov 4 in protest of Coutts arrests .One of the convoys to the Lethbridge Court House will start in Fort Macleod with arrival scheduled between 6:30 and 7 a.m. at the Red Coat Inn. The convoy departure begins at 7:15 a.m. and will culminate at the courthouse at 9 a.m..Another convoy out of Calgary will leave earlier on Friday to join the main convoy group in Fort Macleod before the 7:15 a.m. departure.. Freedom protesters planning another Alberta convoy Nov 4 in protest of Coutts arrests .The Calgary convoy is scheduled to meet at the Flying J Truck Stop for 4:30 a.m. with a departure time of 5 a.m..Marco Van Huigenbos, 32, Alex Van Herk, 53, and George Janzen, 43, are each facing court charges of mischief over $5,000 related to their involvement at the Coutts border blockade in February..A relative of one of the charged men spoke with the Western Standard regarding Friday's planned convoy, but asked to remain anonymous for fear of further legal reprisal. ."We are planning nothing but a peaceful protest," said the man. ."The Crown is just looking to make an example of these guys. They want people to be afraid to stand up for their rights." .The relative said he's aware of other convoys coming together from Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, and one coming from Manitoba. .Cpl. Gina Slaney told the Western Standard "RCMP is aware it's happening and will be prepared" but said she could not share any further details. ."If it's peaceful, we won't need to do anything," said Slaney. "We just want to ensure everybody's safety." .The Western Standard sought comment from the Lethbridge Police Service on Friday's planned protest, but did not hear back in time for publishing. .Van Huigenbos — one of the men facing charges at the Lethbridge Court House on Friday — is a town councillor in Fort Macleod. He was reprimanded by mayor Brent Feyter, who said his behaviour was "unacceptable." .Feyter posted a letter on the town's website indicating his "grave concerns" around any council members "organizing an illegal blockade of a highway." ."To be clear, council respects the rights of peaceful protest, but that does not extend to organizing an illegal blockade of a highway in border crossing that halted international travel and trade for over two weeks and disrupted our municipal neighbour, the Village of Coutts," he wrote in the letter..Feyter said Van Huigenbos' "unacceptable behaviour may result in further sanction," but indicated under the Alberta Municipal Government Act, the councillor is allowed to continue serving while facing his charges. .In a September news release, RCMP referred to the three men as "key participants of the Coutts border blockade," which began January 29 and ended on February 15, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act. .The three appeared in court on October 4, but the hearing was quickly adjourned to November 4 as Yoav Niv — Van Huigenbos's lawyer — said he had not yet received disclosure, which would explain why RCMP have laid the mischief charge. .RCMP seized a cachet of guns and arrested 13 protesters during the blockade. Charges were laid against 14 people, including four men who are now facing charges of conspiracy to murder RCMP officers. Chris Carbert, Chris Lysak, Anthony Olienick, and Jerry Morin will face those charges in a trial set for June 2023..READ MORE: UPDATED: Alberta RCMP seize weapons at Coutts border blockade; Kenney says enforcement to ramp up.The guns were found in trailers on a property near the Coutts protest site, owned by Joanne Person. She is also facing charges in connection with the blockade. .In early September, unsealed court documents revealed Alberta RCMP resorted to unauthorized wiretaps and the use of undercover agents to gather evidence during the Coutts border blockade in February..READ MORE: Unsealed court docs show RCMP used female undercover agents, unauthorized wiretaps in Coutts.The documents showed RCMP ran an undercover operation and a rarely used "imminent harm" wiretap to justify the execution of search warrants and the laying of charges..The documents reveal some of the evidence RCMP gathered at Coutts including the cache of 15 guns, ammunition, and body armour vests. RCMP investigators at the time also alleged some of the protesters were plotting to kill law enforcement officers at the blockade and requested further search warrants.
Recent posts on social media indicate another convoy is being planned in Alberta on Friday in protest of charges laid against three Coutts border "organizers." ."Trudeau's government demands up to 10 years prison for Coutts protestors," reads one of the circulating posts. "We need your support." . Freedom protesters planning another Alberta convoy Nov 4 in protest of Coutts arrests .One of the convoys to the Lethbridge Court House will start in Fort Macleod with arrival scheduled between 6:30 and 7 a.m. at the Red Coat Inn. The convoy departure begins at 7:15 a.m. and will culminate at the courthouse at 9 a.m..Another convoy out of Calgary will leave earlier on Friday to join the main convoy group in Fort Macleod before the 7:15 a.m. departure.. Freedom protesters planning another Alberta convoy Nov 4 in protest of Coutts arrests .The Calgary convoy is scheduled to meet at the Flying J Truck Stop for 4:30 a.m. with a departure time of 5 a.m..Marco Van Huigenbos, 32, Alex Van Herk, 53, and George Janzen, 43, are each facing court charges of mischief over $5,000 related to their involvement at the Coutts border blockade in February..A relative of one of the charged men spoke with the Western Standard regarding Friday's planned convoy, but asked to remain anonymous for fear of further legal reprisal. ."We are planning nothing but a peaceful protest," said the man. ."The Crown is just looking to make an example of these guys. They want people to be afraid to stand up for their rights." .The relative said he's aware of other convoys coming together from Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, and one coming from Manitoba. .Cpl. Gina Slaney told the Western Standard "RCMP is aware it's happening and will be prepared" but said she could not share any further details. ."If it's peaceful, we won't need to do anything," said Slaney. "We just want to ensure everybody's safety." .The Western Standard sought comment from the Lethbridge Police Service on Friday's planned protest, but did not hear back in time for publishing. .Van Huigenbos — one of the men facing charges at the Lethbridge Court House on Friday — is a town councillor in Fort Macleod. He was reprimanded by mayor Brent Feyter, who said his behaviour was "unacceptable." .Feyter posted a letter on the town's website indicating his "grave concerns" around any council members "organizing an illegal blockade of a highway." ."To be clear, council respects the rights of peaceful protest, but that does not extend to organizing an illegal blockade of a highway in border crossing that halted international travel and trade for over two weeks and disrupted our municipal neighbour, the Village of Coutts," he wrote in the letter..Feyter said Van Huigenbos' "unacceptable behaviour may result in further sanction," but indicated under the Alberta Municipal Government Act, the councillor is allowed to continue serving while facing his charges. .In a September news release, RCMP referred to the three men as "key participants of the Coutts border blockade," which began January 29 and ended on February 15, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act. .The three appeared in court on October 4, but the hearing was quickly adjourned to November 4 as Yoav Niv — Van Huigenbos's lawyer — said he had not yet received disclosure, which would explain why RCMP have laid the mischief charge. .RCMP seized a cachet of guns and arrested 13 protesters during the blockade. Charges were laid against 14 people, including four men who are now facing charges of conspiracy to murder RCMP officers. Chris Carbert, Chris Lysak, Anthony Olienick, and Jerry Morin will face those charges in a trial set for June 2023..READ MORE: UPDATED: Alberta RCMP seize weapons at Coutts border blockade; Kenney says enforcement to ramp up.The guns were found in trailers on a property near the Coutts protest site, owned by Joanne Person. She is also facing charges in connection with the blockade. .In early September, unsealed court documents revealed Alberta RCMP resorted to unauthorized wiretaps and the use of undercover agents to gather evidence during the Coutts border blockade in February..READ MORE: Unsealed court docs show RCMP used female undercover agents, unauthorized wiretaps in Coutts.The documents showed RCMP ran an undercover operation and a rarely used "imminent harm" wiretap to justify the execution of search warrants and the laying of charges..The documents reveal some of the evidence RCMP gathered at Coutts including the cache of 15 guns, ammunition, and body armour vests. RCMP investigators at the time also alleged some of the protesters were plotting to kill law enforcement officers at the blockade and requested further search warrants.
