I've been a dedicated news watcher since I learned how to turn on a TV as a child and, upon learning to read, I devoured newspapers at every chance. I was something of a dork that way — still am..Yet never have I seen such an obsessive persecution and attempted prosecution of a Canadian citizen as I have with Tamara Lich. It's descended into polarized madness as a frothing social media mob comprised of everyone from average citizens to established media members who wave figurative pitchforks and demand a non-violent, diminutive grandmother remain locked up for months awaiting trial on mischief charges..Are they so lost in their frenzy they can’t step back a moment and look at themselves?.Do they really want to live in a society where activists protesting the state can be jailed indefinitely over an offense so petty as having taken a selfie next to the wrong person?.It's repugnant to behold..I hope some of these folks bear in mind precedents are being set and some of their beloved progressive activists may face similar treatment in the future. While it may feel like it at times, the Trudeau government won't be in power forever..Protesters crossed the line and found themselves facing criminal charges since the beginning of confederation. Never has a peaceful protester faced such a malicious prosecution as has Tamara Lich. .It isn’t hard to find examples of protesters who accumulated long criminal histories and were charged with assaulting police who are almost immediately released on bail. Just look at the revolving door of justice being applied to the violent, repeat protesters at the CGL pipeline site in BC. .We can find cases almost daily of sex offenders and other criminals with long violent histories being released on bail with fewer conditions than those imposed upon Lich..There's little doubt this ongoing, hysteric effort to jail Lich is politically motivated..Crown Prosecutor Moiz Karimjee donated $17,000 to Trudeau’s Liberals. While Karimjee has every right to donate to political parties, his Liberal allegiances are rather evident. He is more than just a casual supporter of the party. He also knows if he can make a petty prime minister like Justin Trudeau happy, he could find himself with a judicial appointment. .The justice of the peace who refused Lich’s release a couple weeks ago could very well have been seeking promotion too. He's a bureaucrat who was appointed to the position and isn’t even a lawyer. In Ottawa, if one wants to climb the ranks in Ottawa's bureaucracy these days, one needs to keep the Liberal party happy. .Twice Lich went before full judges seeking bail, and twice they ruled she is to be released. .Justice Goodman politely explained to an outraged Crown prosecutor how the law works as he ruled Lich be released..Goodman noted two justices of the peace aligned themselves with the prosecutor, but two superior court justices didn’t. It was a nice way of saying the JPs were out of their legal depth..Goodman pointed out the Crown needed to prove mens rea, in this case meaning they needed to demonstrate Lich knowingly and purposely breached a bail condition. Taking a quick selfie didn’t meet that bar. To the letter of the law, it may have constituted a breach, but not so egregiously as to require homicide detectives fly across the country, arrest her and bring her back to jail in Ottawa. .Justice Goodman corrected the record on something that many Trudeau apologists keep claiming. He pointed out “Ms. Lich is not charged with sedition or inciting a riot. While the protests were of national import, the charges here relate to minor offences in the criminal code and I find it highly unlikely this 49-year-old woman with no criminal record would spend any more time in jail.".This is important: She has been charged with mischief, not high treason as some would imply. .Justice Goodman is also implying even if convicted on the few charges she has, Lich likely served enough days in jail to cover any sentence she may receive..This part of Goodman’s ruling is critical. He said: “I take judicial notice of the harm caused by the freedom convoy to the citizens of Ottawa and governments. But no court should seek to control the possession of political views.”.In a roundabout way, he's implying the persecution of Lich has been politically motivated..He won’t say it, but I will — Tamara Lich has been a political prisoner..The judge then ordered the shackles removed from the grandmother and that she be released.Lich hasn’t been found not guilty of the charges against her, but the courts have ruled she presents no risk to society in being free while awaiting trial. Only the most fanatical of people would think she presents any real risk to the public..Lich’s travails are far from over, but another of the absurd assaults on her freedom has been lifted..We are witnessing political persecution and a travesty of justice in real time in a nation that used to pride itself on freedoms..History will not look kindly upon this year’s events in Canada.
