Convoy organizer Chris Barber pleads not guilty to new criminal charge

Correction: A previous version of this story was unpublished on Monday shortly after it was posted because it contained incorrect information. The original story stated the accused pleaded guilty to a criminal charge, when in fact he pleaded not guilty. The reporter misheard the plea.

Freedom Convoy organizer Chris Barber pleaded not guilty Monday to a new criminal charge for counselling others to disobey a court order in February 2022.

The chargerelatesto an incident on Feb. 9, 2022 when Barber posted a TikTok video where he refers to a courtinjunction granted two days prior,which bannedhonking at all hours of the day in the city's downtown.

"If you see a large vast majority of police coming toward your truck ... lock that door, crawl into that bunk. But before you do that, grab that horn switch and don't let go," Barber is heard saying in the social media video.

"Let that f--king horn go no matter what time it is, and let it roll as long as possible until they're busting your f--king windows down."

Court did say it can't cite the TikTok video as causingany violation of the injunction.

Barber, joiningby video call from his home in Saskatchewan, appeared in an Ottawa courtroom alongside fellow organizerTamara Lich.Both have been released on bail under strict conditions.

Together the two areco-accused of mischief, obstructing policeand counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation.

Both are expected to face trial in September.

Horns were a warning for other drivers, says Barber

Barberwas previously questioned on the TikTokvideoduring lastNovember's Public Order Emergency Commission, which examined the government's use of the Emergency Act in response to last year's massive protest in Ottawa.

He had told the commissionhow he hadtried to urge truckers to stophonking out of respect for nearby residents.

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Barber said he was encouraginghonking to "try and warn the other drivers" if police arrived to begin mass arrests, and mentioned he was trying to inform truck drivers"police needed to have a warrant" to search the bunk of a truck.