1. If you are following me odds are that has been since January 29, 2022 when I started composing some epically long and frequently snarky threads on the "Freedom Convoy" which I often characterized as the #OttawaOccupation. 
2. The occupation in Ottawa eventually inspired anti-vaxx/anti-mandate people to block border crossings in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, slowing and in some cases stopping international trade.
3. The convoy attracted a number of participants, many of whom subscribed to outlandish conspiracy theories, and a number of whom adhered to extremists ideologies.
4. Political figures, including those regarded as mainstream (or at least previously so) tied themselves to this movement seeing the occupiers as a potential base of support.
5. In any case, it was a very long month.
6. Since the Emergencies Act Inquiry has begun, I've noticed that there are quite a few people have been sharing and commenting on some of the tweets found in those threads.
So I've decided to put them all in one place.
So I've decided to put them all in one place.
7. Hopefully y'all will find this useful.
Let's begin with some of the threads made prior to the event when I was watching Pat King who insinuated himself into the effort once he became aware.
Let's begin with some of the threads made prior to the event when I was watching Pat King who insinuated himself into the effort once he became aware.
9. These next few are the lead-up to the occupation including footage of Pat King's drive through Regina where he asked convoy participants to blow their horns so loud they would break glass while driving down Albert St.
13. Many of the participants, King included, reached Ottawa before the event was officially to take place. There had been examples of people being harassed by convoy participants and there was some palpable tension from some who believed there would be a massive police action.
16. By January 30, events were in full swing.
During that first weekend there were an estimated (by some counts) 15,000 people occupying the streets of downtown Ottawa.
During that first weekend there were an estimated (by some counts) 15,000 people occupying the streets of downtown Ottawa.
17. Those numbers would fall precipitously during the week day and while they picked up again during the weekends they never hit that number again, though participants often suggested they numbered in the millions (math is hard)
18. At this point I'm just going to share the tweets. Feel free to explore as you wish.
Jan 30
Jan 30
https://twitter.com/ARCCollective/status/1487851640740663298
45. But was it "finally"?
We are still living with the repercussions of the events of February 2022 as the participants and the movement never really went away.
We are still living with the repercussions of the events of February 2022 as the participants and the movement never really went away.
46. I won't provide an exhaustive list of links here connecting subsequent events to the "Freedom Convoy" but I will provide a sampling.
March 2
March 2
https://twitter.com/ARCCollective/status/1499209442818068480
55. I could keep going but I think the point has been made.
So, what IS the point?
So, what IS the point?
56. Smarter people than I have spoken at length about the repercussions and long-term affects of the #OttawaOccupation and border blockades, but here are a few thoughts of my own.
57. First we see that the circumstances surrounding the pandemic were perhaps the most significant radicalizing events in my lifetime.
Second, social media and the dissemination of conspiracies has had a corrosive impact on democracy here and abroad.
Second, social media and the dissemination of conspiracies has had a corrosive impact on democracy here and abroad.
58. Third, we see right-wing extremists have been able to take advantage of the conditions that were created by the pandemic to expand their numbers.
Fourth, some political figures have been willing to use the rhetoric of fear and division to further their own careers.
Fourth, some political figures have been willing to use the rhetoric of fear and division to further their own careers.
59. Fifth, but not finally, what was created out of the occupation isn't going away. It is going to be a part of political discourse for better or worse (I'd suggest worse) for years to come.
60.
#FreedomConvoy #FreeDumbConvoy #freedumb #OttawaOccupation #onpoli #EmergenciesAct #EmergenciesActInquiry #POEC #ottcity #ottawa #cdnpoli #convoy #ConvoyInquiry
#FreedomConvoy #FreeDumbConvoy #freedumb #OttawaOccupation #onpoli #EmergenciesAct #EmergenciesActInquiry #POEC #ottcity #ottawa #cdnpoli #convoy #ConvoyInquiry
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