Honking For Freedom, Hope For The Future (Part 2)
How Political Convoy Feeds Narrative Poisoning
This post is a continuation from an earlier post titled, Honking For Freedom, Hope For The Future.
Much has occurred since the conclusion of the Freedom Convoy. Many of us have regained our lives, and only a handful of individuals, if any, remain ensnared in ideological subversion, still persistently wearing masks -- a stance now limited to a few fringe outliers.
In one of the many steps towards normalcy, I dedicated time on the road with Julien, a videographer, YouTuber and devoted Bitcoin enthusiast who drew inspiration from the Freedom Convoy. It was a pleasure to connect with someone from the opposite end of the country, devoid of any political inclinations, and gain his insights regarding the Freedom Convoy and the circumstances surrounding it.
Throughout the entire Freedom Convoy, I supported and facilitated direct access for alternative media. Regrettably, these very media outlets played a role in propagating the misleading and often false or fabricated narrative surrounding the Freedom Convoy. Canadian alternative media provided platforms for Mr. Wilson to amplify a false narrative, allowing assertions to be propagated without challenge or scrutiny. There are numerous other instances, and I will continue to address them during my livestreams on YouTube, Rumble, and Locals.
Nonetheless, recognizing that I was entangled within a network of political activists linked to TBOF, a conservative organization associated with former Conservative Premier Brian Peckford and included many hight profile Conservative Party activists and peculiarity Maxime Bernier leader of the PPC.
TBOF at the time, was represented by lawyer Keith Wilson. These entanglements were numerous and difficult to navigate during Freedom Convoy thus I chose to adopt a wait-and-see approach. This strategic move was aimed at understanding the unfolding situation and aiding others who, like me, detected a sense of dishonesty and dystopian motives among those seeking to attach themselves to the Freedom Convoy. Notably, individuals who arrived in February, well after our presence in Ottawa, seemingly with the intent of leveraging the Freedom Convoy for political or financial gain.
Keith Wilson POEC Testimony
One incident, in particular, was shocking: Keith Wilson's testimony during the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC), where he claimed he "didn't know what happened to the bitcoin." This testimony further fuelled the smear and rumours suggesting nefarious occurrences, and he asserted I had potential involvement. This was my own previous counsel on the witness stand, asserting this completely false narrative, while additionally implying that the protest attracted fringe characters "like moths to a flame." This inference suggested that the protest was somehow not peaceful (despite all evidence to the contrary), a statement the Government of Canada used against the Freedom Convoy in their conclusions.
Both assertions are completely false. The fact is, Mr. Wilson was the lawyer handling the bitcoin file, and his agent, Norm Groot, filed the Bitcoin with the Escrow agent. It was shocking to hear the opposite entered into testimony on the record during the POEC. As a matter of public record, my seed phrase (password) was filed in March 2022 with the court. Yet, for over a year, I had been subjected to repeated political whisper campaigns online from activists affiliated with the Political Convoy, asserting that the Bitcoin was somehow missing.
Furthermore, he proceeded to assert that his former clients (Brigitte Belton, Chad Eros, Chris Garrah and Myself) waived privilege, permitting him to openly discuss representing us on the stand in the POEC. No privilege was ever waived by myself or any of the individuals listed. The fact that it appears he used the parliamentary privileges of a commission to categorically lie about us is deeply concerning.
Ezra Levant's Damaging Tweet
In a recent interview with Viva Frei, Mr. Wilson finally, after a year and a half, acknowledged his role in my departure from the Ottawa Sheridan hotel after the road captains determined it was time to leave. Shortly thereafter, Keith Wilson's high school acquaintance, Ezra Levant, took to Twitter, to post "I think you ran away mate." I recall reading that tweet from Ezra in the Uber, as demanded by Keith Wilson, and I couldn't help but think I had been set up. It was surprising that Ezra was even following my Twitter account, as it marked the first time he had ever acknowledged it.
Kieth Wilson confirms with Viva Frei he called an persuaded me to leave downtown Ottawa despite my objections.
An ironic statement from Ezra given the fact that during the convoy, I granted Rebel News an exclusive one-hour interview with Tamara and myself on January 30th while freedom convoy was the biggest media story on the planet.
In that interview, we explained to the world that the mandate of the Freedom Convoy was to focus on ending mandates and the ArriveCan app, emphasizing that the Freedom Convoy was about Peace, Love, and Unity. Curiously, Ezra Levant seemed too preoccupied to upload the interview for some reason. I repeatedly followed up with Alex who seemed confused why the interview was not approved for release.
The Emergence of Diverge Media
However, amidst all these developments, Greg Staley of DivergeMedia.ca reached out to me, expressing interest in an interview. Having heard me speak in numerous Twitter spaces, he seemed intrigued by many of the details that unfolded behind the scenes. I addressed his questions directly and honestly, responding to all inquiries and assertions. Following the interview, Mr. Staley conveyed his initial skepticism, but after delving into the evidence, he found my account to be consistent with the evidence he had gathered.
Subsequently, Greg Staley, a grassroots blue-collar social conservative journalist, embarked on an investigative journey that spanned nine months. He engaged with many of us from the Freedom Convoy, and numerous individuals, myself included, submitted email and text communications to Mr. Staley. He conducted interviews with several key figures central to the Freedom Convoy, including Tamara Lich, Keith Wilson, former Conservative Premier Brian Peckford, and others. These individuals collectively represent the entity I now refer to as the "Political Convoy."
Recently, Mr. Staley crafted a comprehensive Twitter thread spanning 20 parts, in which he meticulously outlines a significant portion of the evidence he has diligently scrutinized over the past nine months. This extensive process involved delving into materials such as Tamara Lich's book and my own publication, "Honking For Freedom," (Honking For Freedom.com) all in an earnest attempt to validate the claims put forth.
Perhaps the most distressing facet of this entire situation pertains to the treatment that Freedom Convoy supporters have endured since the convoy itself. Initially, the JCCF joined forces with the Freedom Convoy, promising "Free Legal Counsel." However, this commitment to legal aid rapidly transformed into an attempt to assert control over the Freedom Convoy narrative and messaging. It involved utilizing participants to raise an astonishing $5 million for truckers' defence after the Freedom Convoy was ended and donation money had been locked in escrow pending an ongoing legal challenge. It's noteworthy that neither myself nor many other truckers from the Freedom Convoy have received a single penny from this fund. Additionally, in the preceding quarter, a barrage of donation emails was sent by The Democracy Fund, an affiliated organization, soliciting an additional $300k for Tamara Lich's defence.
Now, I'm going to address the question that's likely on all your minds: Why am I only reading about this now?
The answer is simple.
Given the substantial resources that were mobilized to target myself and other Freedom Convoy leaders, coupled with the establishment of numerous political proxy organizations (more on those later) to disseminate a political narrative above the truth, I realized that only a few would be willing to listen with an open mined. It was premature, and the deluge of information and false assertions would render it challenging for many to grasp and acknowledge. The prevailing fabricated narrative had become contaminated, leading to a form of narrative poisoning. However, I was confidence that, as time passed and the rhetoric against myself and fellow participants gradually subsided, people would become increasingly receptive to the truth.
That time is coming soon, although the firehose of information remains voluminous, as the web of connections to those who attached themselves to the Freedom Convoy with nefarious intentions is vast.
Greg Staley from Diverge Media has conducted interviews with myself and my lawyer, Jim Karahalios, who I am sure is known to many of you. As I mentioned to Jordan Peterson, I engaged Jim Karahalios not only because he has become a friend over the years, despite some political differences, but also due to his previous career as an engineer before transitioning to a lawyer. His engineering background underscores his meticulous attention to the tiniest details to the point I sometimes find it exhausting. However, he is uniquely capable and was the first council to win (not settle a plea-bargain) a freedom convoy related case in court.
In this excerpt from an hour-long interview with Greg and Jim, they delve into certain inconsistencies within the POEC testimony and you can see in real time how his attention to detail is on a level I have no seen before.
Rebel Media First Interview
Additionally important was my first Rebel Media interview, 10 months after the convoy, following my POEC testimony. Sheila Gunn Reid made assertions with regards to my POEC testimony. During her assertions, she did express to her audience, "If Ben wants to come on, we will have him on anytime." Subsequently, I coordinated with my lawyer to appear, aiming to provide comprehensive context -- something I was unable to fully accomplish within the confines of the POEC format. This was due to being denied standing, as Keith Wilson omitted my name from the list of Freedom Convoy participants, hoping I wouldn't be subpoenaed. However, I was.
However, unlike the numerous interviews featuring Keith Wilson and Tom Marazzo that were prominently showcased, much like INSOC propaganda, the interview with Jim Karahalios and myself was never aired on the Rebel News YouTube channel or Sheila Gunn Reid's weekly show, as she had promised. Instead, it was relegated to the very small Rebel Media Canada channel with a limited audience. This was disappointing, as this kind of deceptive behaviour is what I would expect from the CBC.
Full interview with Rebel Media after my the POEC Testimony.
All of what you have read so far is just a small glimpse of what transpired during and since the Freedom Convoy. I promise to share more, as many of you have begun piecing together the puzzle, along with Greg Staley from Diverge Media and his upcoming documentary, "The Politics at The Protest."
Hope for the Future.
All the political meddling that I and others were dealing with during the Freedom Convoy does not diminish the essence of the Convoy itself. It is inevitable for political operatives to intervene and attempt to co-opt and control movements like the convoy.
Think about it. The political establishment, which prioritizes control above all else, could not allow a conservative party Facebook group with a disaffected 600,000 followers, raising a cumulative $23 million and opposing policies endorsed by Conservative and Liberal parties, to go unchecked and build an independent movement. Of course, they deployed as many activists as possible to latch on and disrupt the festivities, dance parties, unity, and love. The political class is dominated by individuals who lack a sense of humour and are often very miserable. This is why all of you need to comprehend the structure of how these movements are co-opted in Canadian politics, so you can safeguard yourselves in the future if you or your loved ones become involved in political activism.
Over the past eight months, I have been quietly forging relationships with fellow Freedom Convoy truckers and supporters, with a particular focus on assisting truckers and organizers who were abandoned by Political Convoy, left with no money and no legal representation. While others focused on seeking celebrity status, I directed my efforts toward helping those in need as best I could. The good news is that there are only a few people remaining who require assistance, but we are actively working on it.
On a personal note
It is disheartening to learn that people you trusted and placed your faith in were too weak to withstand the pressure from political operatives. While seasoned political operatives or party members may dismiss it as "just politics," I do not endorse that kind of pathology. I find it reprehensible.
Then there is the American perspective. One of the most embarrassing experiences occurred in Boston when a friend, a successful businessperson and ardent Freedom Convoy supporter who had been witnessing the smears and online attacks, asked me, "What's wrong with Canadians? Are they that easily manipulated? Can't they see that you've been co-opted, just as the political establishment co-opted the Tea Party movement?"
As I consistently emphasize in my livestreams, the passage of time will bring about positive change, leading us back to an era of unity centred around Peace, Love, Hope, and Freedom, as was the case during the Freedom Convoy.
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
― Aldous Huxley
*To everyone who has been financially contributing to this Substack or on locals (HonkingForFreedom.locals.com) I am truly grateful for your contributions. Every little bit helps because despite the false assertions and attacks from Political Convoy, I have not once asked anyone for donations. Political Convoy has invested heavily in deceiving you.
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To donate or contribute to Diverge Media please click here. https://divergemedia.ca/donate-to-diverge/
*I have zero legal or business affiliation with Diverge Media in any way
Do you have a link to the Greg S twitter post of his research?
"It is disheartening to learn that people you trusted and placed your faith in were too weak to withstand the pressure from political operatives."
Sadly, this appears to be the case with 95% of the people I know when it came to the COVID-19 fiasco.