Episode 253: The Canadian Save The Children Convoy
Oct 31, 2023
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Protest convoy in Canada started as a protest against vaccine mandates but evolved into a movement against COVID-19 mandates. Save the Children Convoy emerged, accompanied by conspiracy theories and concerns about violence. The role of sovereign citizen concepts and the overlap with new age spirituality explored. Connection between QAnon, spiritual revolution, and saving children examined. Relationship between a radical conservative figure and Canadian politics discussed. Future of the Save the Children Convoy considered.
The Save the Children Convoy in Canada protested vaccine and COVID-19 mandates, involving individuals influenced by QAnon and sovereign citizen concepts.
The main organizers of the convoy, Gordon Barry and Elliot McDavid, have connections to anti-vaccine beliefs, conspiracy theories, and previous protest movements.
Allegations of potential violence and criminal behavior, including plans to detain members of parliament, raised concerns about the convoy's intentions and their association with QAnon ideologies.
Deep dives
Overview of the Convoy
The podcast episode discusses the Canadian Save the Children convoy, which disrupted the normal operations of Ottawa in early 2021. The convoy involved hundreds of trucks and personal vehicles, with thousands of protesters blocking traffic to protest vaccine and COVID-19 mandates. The episode highlights that the convoy included individuals who invoked sovereign citizen and QAnon concepts. The trucking industry and labor groups condemned the convoy, which eventually came to an end after police presence and arrests.
Organizers of the Convoy
The podcast explores the main organizers of the Save the Children convoy, Gordon Barry and Elliot McDavid. Gordon, a former political candidate, emerged as the leader of the convoy, while Elliot previously made headlines for harassing a member of parliament. The episode discusses their backgrounds and their involvement in anti-vaccine and conspiracy theories. It also highlights their beliefs and associations with QAnon ideologies and their involvement in other protest movements like the Freedom Convoy.
Concerns of Violence and QAnon Influence
The podcast episode raises concerns about potential violence and criminal behavior associated with the convoy. It mentions allegations of violent plans involving convoy supporters performing roles associated with police officers and detaining members of parliament. The episode examines the relationship between convoy members and QAnon, highlighting the presence of QAnon slogans, references to white hats, and beliefs about secret pedophile rings. It suggests that members of the convoy, although no longer actively following QAnon, continue to live with the influence of QAnon narratives and alternate realities shaped by consuming online content.
Base Camps and Logistics Support in Ottawa
During the convoy protests in Ottawa, several base camps were set up in the rural areas just outside the city. These base camps served as staging areas and provided logistical support for the activities happening in downtown Ottawa. Despite media focus on the protests near Parliament buildings, these base camps played a crucial role in fueling and supporting the movement. One notable base camp was set up in a local baseball stadium, where protesters built a makeshift fort-like camp using wooden crates and gas canisters. These base camps also served as community gathering places, hosting events like concerts and open mic nights.
Infighting and Competitive Dynamics
Infighting and competition among different factions and leaders within the convoy movement have been significant challenges. The movement is driven by influencers and livestreamers who aim to build audiences and crowdfund money. The competition for attention, followers, and funds often leads to jealousy and conflicts. Live stream videos and media interviews have been sources of tension, with certain individuals trying to position themselves as spokespeople and exclude others. These dynamics, combined with ideological differences, have contributed to frequent infighting and divisions within the movement, which have sometimes escalated into physical confrontations and flame wars online. Despite their disruptive actions, the convoy movement has struggled to maintain cohesion and achieve its desired goals.
In January and February of last year, the normal operations of Canada's capital city of Ottawa were disrupted by the so-called Freedom Convoy. The convoy involved hundreds of trucks and personal vehicles and thousands of protestors at its peak, who made a lot of noise and blocked traffic before finally being cleared out.
The initial convoy movement was created to protest vaccine mandates for crossing the United States border, but later evolved into a protest about COVID-19 mandates in general. Beginning January 22, 2023, vehicles formed convoys from several points and traversed Canadian provinces before converging on Ottawa on January 29, 2022, with a rally at Parliament Hill. The convoy was condemned by the trucking industry and labor groups. The Canadian Trucking Alliance stated that most protesters had no connection to trucking.
That all came to an end on February 14, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time since its passing in 1988. Between February 17 and 20, a large joint-operation police presence in Ottawa arrested organizers and protesters, removed parked vehicles, and dismantled blockades from Ottawa streets.
Just a few months ago a new protest movement emerged, taking inspiration from both that convoy movement and anti-gay and trans protest movements. This one is called The Save the Children Convoy. Since this new convoy was announced, it has been subject to allegations of plans of criminal violence, infighting, and the leaders have invoked sovereign citizen and QAnon concepts.
We talk to Luke LeBrun, editor of the publication PressProgress, about this developing story and what members of the Save The Children convoy want.
REFERENCES
Canada’s Far-Right is Planning a Convoy to Toronto to ‘Save the Children’. It’s Already Spinning Out of Control.
https://pressprogress.ca/canadas-far-right-is-planning-a-convoy-to-toronto-to-save-the-children-its-already-spinning-out-of-control/
Far-Right ‘Save the Children Convoy’ Gathering at Rural Base Camp Outside Ottawa
https://pressprogress.ca/far-right-save-the-children-convoy-gathering-at-rural-base-camp-outside-ottawa/
‘Save the Children Convoy’ Leaders Plotted to Capture Police and MPs at Secret Meetings, Participants Allege
https://pressprogress.ca/save-the-children-convoy-leaders-plotted-to-capture-police-and-mps-at-secret-meetings-participants-allege/
‘Save the Children Convoy’ Leader Calls for Jailing Politicians and Replacing Government in QAnon-Inspired Speech
https://pressprogress.ca/save-the-children-convoy-leader-calls-for-jailing-politicians-and-replacing-government-in-qanon-inspired-speech/
‘Save the Children Convoy’ Says Conservative MP Invited Them Into House of Commons as ‘VIP’ Guests
https://pressprogress.ca/save-the-children-convoy-says-conservative-mp-invited-them-into-house-of-commons-as-vip-guests/
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