Hundreds show up at Lethbridge courthouse to support men charged in Coutts border blockade

Three men charged in connection with the Coutts, Alta., border blockades elected to be tried by judge and jury before a packed courtroom Friday, after a convoy of trucks and protesters descended on the Lethbridge courthouse in a show of support.

Since early morning, hundreds of people rallied on the steps of the courthouse in front of a heavy presence of police.

Protest organizer Marco Van Huigenbos, 32, as well as Alex Van Herk, 53, and George Janzen, 43, appeared on charges of mischief over $5,000 to determine next steps in their cases. 

Van Huigenbos is also a town councillor in nearby Fort Macleod.

"We believe that 12 randomly chosen representative jurors reflect the common sense, the values and the conscience of the community in this very important case," defence lawyer Yoav Niv told CBC News in a statement on behalf of clients Van Huigenbos and Van Herk.

"Once disclosure is properly received, we will proceed to trial by jury immediately. There will be no deals and no concessions."

Janzen is represented by Chad Williamson, who also agreed to proceed to a jury trial.

The next court date was set for Dec. 12. Court then adjourned to allow the men's supporters to filter out without disrupting subsequent cases. 

The men, alongside a dozen others, were charged after protesting pandemic-related government restrictions back in late January and February.

Social media posts encouraged supporters of the three men to join a convoy to Lethbridge in order to then protest at the courthouse.

"Save the Coutts boys," reads a widely shared poster promoting the gathering on social media.

It goes on to say "Trudeau's government demands up to 10 years in prison for Coutts protesters … we need your support."

'Large crowd expected'

In an interview with CBC News on Thursday night, Van Huigenbos said the rally is also in support of the four men who were denied bail. 

"There's a lot of people to support us, but it's also to show support for what we stood for and for the individuals who are still held in remand … without bail pre-trial."

The groups left from locations in Manitoba, B.C. and Alberta, including Calgary and Fort Macleod.

Fifteen vehicles left from Calgary at 5 a.m. Photos posted to social media show a group of semis gathering near the downtown area.

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) said it had officers set up at several intersections "due to the influx of people and vehicles related to the court appearance of three accused in the Coutts border blockade."

LPS estimated as many as 500 people had gathered for the rally, which it described as "peaceful."

RCMP were involved in a supportive role to LPS. Cpl. Gina Slaney, spokesperson for the RCMP, says the goal was "to make sure everybody is safe and that [the protest is] lawful."

By late Friday morning, the protesters had cleared off to another location, where the plan was to hold a barbecue fundraiser in support of those still in custody.

Van Huigenbos headed to Ottawa after court

Fifteen people are facing charges connected to the Coutts border blockades which ran from Jan. 29 to Feb. 15. 

On Feb. 14, the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act, allowing for temporary powers to handle the ongoing blockades and protests against pandemic restrictions.

The same day, RCMP executed search warrants in Coutts, arresting more than a dozen protesters and seizing a cache of weapons, body armour and ammunition. 

Four men — Chris Carbert, Chris Lysak, Anthony Olienick and Jerry Morin — face the most serious charges, accused of plotting to murder RCMP officers. 

They remain in custody and are set to go on trial next June. 

Van Huigenbos, Van Herk and Janzen were charged in September, seven months after the protests ended.

The convoy arrived in Lethbridge as the Emergencies Act inquiry heads into another day of testimony in Ottawa.

The commission is examining the federal government's decision to invoke emergency powers to clear the crowds and vehicles that gridlocked the capital for more than three weeks last winter.

After his court appearance Friday, Van Huigenbos is headed to Ottawa to testify.