Fellow convoy leader Chris Barber was also found guilty of the same charge and for encouraging truckers to ignore a court injunction. Both were acquitted of more serious charges, including intimidation and obstruction of police.

The Freedom Convoy brought tens of thousands of Canadians and roughly 5,000 trucks to Ottawa in early 2022, with support from many Americans. Protesters opposed vaccine mandates and stood up for personal freedoms. The Canadian government responded with aggressive police action, arrests, and even freezing bank accounts of peaceful demonstrators.

Lich, a former musician with no political aspirations, said she simply couldn’t stay silent while Canadians were losing their rights. For that, she spent months in jail. Her trial dragged on for years, costing up to $1 million in legal fees, much of which was raised through public support. Critics argue the vaguely defined “mischief” charge was politically motivated and used to punish dissent.