I was shocked that they were found guilty but I suppose there are still many people who resented the protest, even in Southern Alberta.
This is such a sad affair but I am grateful for these men, the 'Coutts Four, Tamara, Chris and all the others who have been persecuted by our federal and provincial governments over the past four years.
Yes, it would appear the mainstream media did a bang up job of demonizing the protesters leaving a last dishonest impression. I guess we can only hope that maybe the judge will be reasonable in the sentencing.
All very good points and observations, which I think leads all of us to a loss as how the jury came to the conclusion that it did. As you saw in my piece I was just miffed at the about-turn the Crown made. He started out with great conviction he would prove they were leaders. But when the evidence couldn't do that he then tells the jury he didn't have to do what he told them he would do to prove their guilt. I wasn't there I can only take what I got from news reports. But I am a little surprised as to why the defence wouldn't have hammered Johnston on that. Hey man, you came out swinging saying you would prove they were leaders, you couldn't do that and now you're telling the jury that even though you failed to do this they should still convict. I'm not a lawyer, but that's certainly seems a strategy they could have used. But as you said, also there was no evidence they blocked traffic or any thing of that nature and the jury still found them guilty. What is worrisome is the whole consensus the that seems to be coming through in all these trials, and that is, if you protested and we caught you, you will be found guilty of mischief. Especially, it would seem, if you took on the burden of trying to keep things calm and peaceful, that also got you into trouble. As I said in my article, it does not bode well for Chris and Tarmara. Their judge Perkins-McKay, has already had one of her acquittals for mischief on a convoy participant overturned by an appellant court. There seems to be a lot of unofficial precedents being set when it comes to convoy participants that could influence her verdict.
Thanks for your reflections. I gather the Crown's contention that being at the Coutts Blockade itself constituted 'mischief' is worrisome for all those who attended the protest. There are others with trials coming up. But maybe the Crown will lay charges against additional dozens of protesters, even as it is now 26 months after these events. I didn't point out that the RCMP were actually guilty of damaging excavators - farm machinery - on private property on FEB 13, which at least one witness conceded during the Coutts Three trial.
In the big picture, I recall that there were farmers protesting in New Delhi, India, and Prime Minister Modi was making some tough statements. Our very own Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said something to Modi about the cost of freedom and democracy, and for him to chill out.
I think, more and more, Canada under our current "Liberal" government has shifted our culture and governance toward an "Illiberal" form of government. The window-dressing of democracy is still in play. But the government picks and chooses what dissent it will tolerate, while the media omits discussion, omits reporting, regarding viewpoints that are not to be tolerated.
Yes, I have been following this RCMP report on the rise of 'populism being worrisome. Funny how they paint populism in such a negative manner, using terms like Christian Nationalists to scare everyone. I did a piece on how CSIS is monitoring what they say were parental right movements. Those would be parents who are sick and tired of their kids being taught all kinds of gender fluidity nonsense in schools. But CSIS views them as a threat the LGBTQ etc, etc. groups. Never occurred to them it might and very much and is the other way around. Carpay's article is right on the money, and what the RCMP are doing is akin to what the FBI has been doing in the US to people who do as much as protest outside an abortion clinic or go to schools to protest what their kids are being indoctrinated in. We are living in very strange times under this government. I will say I predicted it from the get go. I saw through Trudeaus 'sunny ways' window dressing as somebody who was hanging on the coattails of his father to win power, and that he would be dangerous when he got it.
Roxanne I noticed the Crown's bait-and-switch tactic as well right away on verdict day. Even the mainstream media highlighted his comment about "only needing to know they were there". So the men were accused and tried for one thing and then at the last moment the jury was told a different story with a dramatically different impact on their fate, both in terms of verdict and I imagine sentencing as well.
I mean what the hell! Nobody ever disputed they were there! We didn't need 26 months of cops and courtroom drama to obtain this result!
I assume the Crown attorney was within bounds technically, so I can only hope this will be grounds for appeal, either of verdict or sentencing.
I agree, but no one seems to think that was strange. I mean the judge could have pointed this out in his charge to the jury but didn't. And to my point, it only being there meant they were guilty then that means every person who was there is guilty of mischief. So what then? Put the thousands that were there in jail. These men are being used by that state as examples, reminders of what can happen to citizens if they challenge a government. This soviet style bullshit and the jury should have realized that and on their conscience alone, not convicted them.
I was shocked that they were found guilty but I suppose there are still many people who resented the protest, even in Southern Alberta.
This is such a sad affair but I am grateful for these men, the 'Coutts Four, Tamara, Chris and all the others who have been persecuted by our federal and provincial governments over the past four years.
Yes, it would appear the mainstream media did a bang up job of demonizing the protesters leaving a last dishonest impression. I guess we can only hope that maybe the judge will be reasonable in the sentencing.
The satanic scumbags who are running Canada at present were always going to find them guilty helped by the controlled MSM
Thanks for attending to this important story! I just had a short piece I penned yesterday go online earlier today. Here it is: https://fcpp.org/2024/04/19/coutts-three-verdict-a-warning-to-protesters-who-act-as-liaison-with-police/
All very good points and observations, which I think leads all of us to a loss as how the jury came to the conclusion that it did. As you saw in my piece I was just miffed at the about-turn the Crown made. He started out with great conviction he would prove they were leaders. But when the evidence couldn't do that he then tells the jury he didn't have to do what he told them he would do to prove their guilt. I wasn't there I can only take what I got from news reports. But I am a little surprised as to why the defence wouldn't have hammered Johnston on that. Hey man, you came out swinging saying you would prove they were leaders, you couldn't do that and now you're telling the jury that even though you failed to do this they should still convict. I'm not a lawyer, but that's certainly seems a strategy they could have used. But as you said, also there was no evidence they blocked traffic or any thing of that nature and the jury still found them guilty. What is worrisome is the whole consensus the that seems to be coming through in all these trials, and that is, if you protested and we caught you, you will be found guilty of mischief. Especially, it would seem, if you took on the burden of trying to keep things calm and peaceful, that also got you into trouble. As I said in my article, it does not bode well for Chris and Tarmara. Their judge Perkins-McKay, has already had one of her acquittals for mischief on a convoy participant overturned by an appellant court. There seems to be a lot of unofficial precedents being set when it comes to convoy participants that could influence her verdict.
Thanks for your reflections. I gather the Crown's contention that being at the Coutts Blockade itself constituted 'mischief' is worrisome for all those who attended the protest. There are others with trials coming up. But maybe the Crown will lay charges against additional dozens of protesters, even as it is now 26 months after these events. I didn't point out that the RCMP were actually guilty of damaging excavators - farm machinery - on private property on FEB 13, which at least one witness conceded during the Coutts Three trial.
In the big picture, I recall that there were farmers protesting in New Delhi, India, and Prime Minister Modi was making some tough statements. Our very own Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said something to Modi about the cost of freedom and democracy, and for him to chill out.
I think, more and more, Canada under our current "Liberal" government has shifted our culture and governance toward an "Illiberal" form of government. The window-dressing of democracy is still in play. But the government picks and chooses what dissent it will tolerate, while the media omits discussion, omits reporting, regarding viewpoints that are not to be tolerated.
Also, not encouraged by recent RCMP report to federal government that sees 'Democracy as a threat', as John Carpay wrote in this recent Epoch Times piece: https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/john-carpay-rcmp-report-to-federal-government-sees-democracy-as-a-threat-5627020?utm_source=OP_article_paid&src_src=OP_article_paid&utm_campaign=opinion-2024-04-17-ca&src_cmp=opinion-2024-04-17-ca&utm_medium=email&est=6GpVafbpMivmoiDC%2BDSpCx2DSE%2FqxV1vlKeee3Cs5AOitZDaNy0%2BXu6yvALHsw%3D%3D
Yes, I have been following this RCMP report on the rise of 'populism being worrisome. Funny how they paint populism in such a negative manner, using terms like Christian Nationalists to scare everyone. I did a piece on how CSIS is monitoring what they say were parental right movements. Those would be parents who are sick and tired of their kids being taught all kinds of gender fluidity nonsense in schools. But CSIS views them as a threat the LGBTQ etc, etc. groups. Never occurred to them it might and very much and is the other way around. Carpay's article is right on the money, and what the RCMP are doing is akin to what the FBI has been doing in the US to people who do as much as protest outside an abortion clinic or go to schools to protest what their kids are being indoctrinated in. We are living in very strange times under this government. I will say I predicted it from the get go. I saw through Trudeaus 'sunny ways' window dressing as somebody who was hanging on the coattails of his father to win power, and that he would be dangerous when he got it.
The 'Sunny Ways' campaign of 2015 was a bit like the Banana Splits Theme Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMl6HnhFFIA
Never heard of the Banana Splits before, but I get the picture.
Roxanne I noticed the Crown's bait-and-switch tactic as well right away on verdict day. Even the mainstream media highlighted his comment about "only needing to know they were there". So the men were accused and tried for one thing and then at the last moment the jury was told a different story with a dramatically different impact on their fate, both in terms of verdict and I imagine sentencing as well.
I mean what the hell! Nobody ever disputed they were there! We didn't need 26 months of cops and courtroom drama to obtain this result!
I assume the Crown attorney was within bounds technically, so I can only hope this will be grounds for appeal, either of verdict or sentencing.
I agree, but no one seems to think that was strange. I mean the judge could have pointed this out in his charge to the jury but didn't. And to my point, it only being there meant they were guilty then that means every person who was there is guilty of mischief. So what then? Put the thousands that were there in jail. These men are being used by that state as examples, reminders of what can happen to citizens if they challenge a government. This soviet style bullshit and the jury should have realized that and on their conscience alone, not convicted them.