The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) announced charges against Freedom Convoy protestor JW were dropped on November 18. .“The right to peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy, which is why the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Charter,” said JCCF lawyer Henna Parmar in a Friday press release. .“We look forward to the Canadian Courts upholding the fundamental right of Canadians to peacefully assemble.”.The release said the JCCF sought assistance from criminal defence lawyer Sam Goldstein to represent JW. .JW was charged with interfering with the lawful use and enjoyment of property of downtown Ottawa residents, failure to obey a court order, and obstruction of justice for failing to identify himself to police in February. The court order he allegedly disobeyed was made under Ontario’s state of emergency to deal with the Windsor bridge blockades. .This order was created to clear the Windsor blockades, and Goldstein argued it was an abuse to use the order for any other purpose. The Crown agreed and withdrew all of the charges. .The release said there was a lack of evidence JW interfered with the lawful use and enjoyment of property. It added there were no police notes stating he failed to identify himself to police amounting to obstructing them. .All charges against him have been dropped. .The JCCF said in August the Crown has stayed 49 charges against seven Freedom Convoy participants. .READ MORE: Charges dropped against seven Freedom Convoy protestors.The Crown stayed the charges in the last two weeks due to a lack of evidence. .These protestors were charged with mischief, mischief to property, disobeying a lawful order, and obstruction of a peace officer. They maintained their innocence and said freedom of peaceful assembly is essential in a healthy democracy.
