https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-convoy-protest-regrets-1.6394502
'I regret going': Protester says he spent life savings to support Freedom Convoy
No 'stance' on vaccine mandates, but used own money to help protesters, man says
A protester who joined the so-called Freedom Convoy, which occupied downtown Ottawa for much of February, says he regrets taking part after he lost $13,000 and his home protesting something he never really "had a stance on."
"I regret going,'' said Martin Joseph Anglehart, who spoke to CBC via Zoom from Hope, B.C.
Anglehart said he has "nothing left" after spending his life savings on gas and food for the occupiers, who disrupted Ottawa's downtown core for more than three weeks.
"I started delivering fuel and picking up laundry. Everything for the truckers."
From Jan. 28 to Feb. 14, bank statements provided to CBC show Anglehart transferred thousands of dollars and spent thousands more at a gas station near Coventry Road — where he was stationed for the majority of the protest.
Anglehart is currently living out of his SUV, as he said his landlord kicked him out over his "point of view" concerning the protest.
Martin Joseph Anglehart speaks to CBC via Zoom from inside his SUV, which he says is his current home. (CBC News)
'Never had a stance on mandates'
Anglehart said he's unable to access his account because it remains frozen. More than 250 accounts linked to people and businesses involved in convoy protests were frozen after the Emergencies Act was invoked.
Millions of dollars were donated through online crowd fundraisers, but Anglehart said he never saw a cent from those funds. Instead, he said he relied on the roughly $2,000 in cash donations from fellow convoy participants to go home.
Anglehart admits he never had "a stance on mandates" but felt drawn to the movement after he was prevented from visiting a dying friend at a Montreal hospital in June 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions.
After hearing about the convoy to Ottawa, he closed his web development business in January and left his home in Fort McKay, Alta.
"[We] merged with a convoy around Medicine Hat," said Anglehart. "I thought that [it] was a cause that was bigger than me. And I thought … it was worth the effort to go."
Illegal occupation
On Feb. 11, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared the protest an "illegal occupation."
Four days later, Anglehart said he was arrested for delivering fuel to truckers and was told to leave.
He was soon released on conditions that he leave Ottawa immediately.
Anglehart's Dodge Caravan was also seized. It remains impounded and Anglehart said he can't afford to get it back.
While feelings of regret take over, there are also feelings of contrition.
"I would like to apologize to [the] people in Ottawa," said Anglehart. "I'm sorry … All I wanted was to help people."
Anglehart
said he was arrested on Feb.15 for delivering fuel to truckers and was
told to leave. He said police handed him this offence notice on Feb. 10.
(Martin Joseph Anglehart)
'Cost for participating'
When hearing Anglehart's story, University of Ottawa law professor Joao Velloso said he was not surprised.
Velloso conducted his research on the ground in Ottawa during the entirety of the occupation. He was examining the anthropological and sociological aspect of the protest.
"You may have people that [were] seeking a sense of community," said Velloso. " Everybody was tired of the pandemic … And you see people for the first time in two years … I can totally understand that."
But there is a cost, he warned.
A screen grab of text messages show Anglehart's plea for repayment. (Martin Joseph Anglehart)
"We are not talking about people with a lot of resources," he said. "They have their trucks, they have some funds … [but] the vast majority of the protesters …[were] middle class, sometimes low middle class."
Velloso also points to the $300-million class-action lawsuit against protesters launched by downtown Ottawa residents and businesses.
He said it could bankrupt those named in the suit. When it comes down to all the donations, it's hard to track down where all the money went, said Velloso.
"Not all of the people that were there received the money that some organizers received," he said. "We have no idea if there was dark money to that in the sense that other sources of funding that we don't know."
Clarifications
- An earlier version of this story did not include the cash donations Anglehart said he received to return home and the date of the offence ticket. The story has been updated.Mar 27, 2022 3:16 PM ET
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Protester who lost life savings regrets involvement with 'Freedom Convoy'
More than a month after the so-called "Freedom Convoy" occupied downtown Ottawa, one protester says he regrets taking part.
Martin Joseph Anglehart says he spent all of his life savings helping people with the convoy, and is now living out of his vehicle near Kenora, Ont.
Anglehart says he only joined the protest because he wanted to feel part of something after months of feeling lonely.
"I’m still as alone as I was two months ago," said the 41-year-old from his car. "I still don’t have friends and I still don’t have family. I’m living in the back of a fricken car, so yah, I regret going."
Anglehart joined the convoy in Medicine Hat, Alta., where he then travelled with the group to Ottawa in January.
He said he spent more than $13,000, his entire life savings.
Anglehart wasn’t passionate about the cause, but joined the convoy because he was upset that he wasn’t able to say goodbye to his closest friend in hospital, who later died of cancer, because of pandemic restrictions.
"Loneliness was one of the worst things for me," Anglehart said.
After arriving in the nation’s capital, he wanted to help and quickly got involved in transferring thousands of dollars in cash for occupiers, as well as purchasing food and fuel.
"They said 'We need gas, we need to keep the truck going,'" he said. “They said 'Keep your receipt and we will put it with the sheets' and I said 'Ok."
He was hopeful that he would be reimbursed from crowd-sourcing platforms, but that never happened.
Text messages provided by Anglehart show some of the exchanges, where he writes, "Appreciate it. I emptied my PayPal. I should have more money coming in. I spent all my savings.”
Then the worry set in, as he wrote in a text message, "I put in all my savings so far. Just worried.”
Anglehart says he was arrested on Feb. 15 for delivering fuel to the occupiers.
"I was given a piece of paper that said I had to be outside the radius of Ottawa and I left, the day before my account got frozen," he said.
He now wants to apologize to the residents of Ottawa for his involvement.
"I’m sorry to the people of Ottawa,” he said. "You had to endure all the horns and all the weirdos."
He said he is working to rebuild his life, as his bank account remains frozen.
-
'I regret going': Protester says he spent life savings to support Freedom Convoy
GUEST - Martin Joseph Anglehart, A protester who joined the “Freedom Convoy,” in Ottawa, says he lost $13,000 and his home
'I regret going': Protester says he spent life savings to support Freedom Convoy
https://www.freedom2canada.com/
FREEDOM CONVOY SILENT HERO
Www.givesendgo.com/Freedom2canada
If you want to reach me.
438 873 9955
freedom2canada@outlook.com
I remember all the lonely night i used to go thru in my small trailer in Alberta.No friends,no family.No call or text.Lonelyness is a bitter friend.I never dreamed to be a millionaire,to be rich.All i ever wanted is a place to call home.A family,a good girl.
In my life as an orphan I remember being so lonely all my life.I never found someone that understood me.I have so much to offer,but no one ever gave me a chance.
As I sat in my empty trailer in northern Alberta my only friend was the wind of the night.The silence of the night,and the subtile laugh of coyotes.
I remember the silence and the white blanket of snow ,alone for the past two years I don't remember the feeling of a hug or human touch,a kiss .I forgot even how to laugh.
I remember there was a post in my university podcasts about the trucker convoy and all my life I ever want to do,is to belong somewheres As I pray, and I ask God. Should I join this and the only answer was the silence of the night .I always been the type to help everyone,i would jumpin a lake or house on fire to help anyone.
I was like,Okay!I will follow. So I packed up everything in my van and follow the convoy to Ottawa!
OH MY was It ever amazing people all across the country on bridges at minus 50. Waving Flag ,cheering,my heart skipping a beat every time , I felt like I never felt before ,I felt like I belong for once.
But again, I have a soft heart not having friends or family in life.. I have a hard time saying no.
All I wanted is to belong. As we pulled in Ottawa there were trucks and trucks and trucks everywhere it was like the biggest free for all.
In my head that just wanted to belong . I didn't have any opinion on anything. I just I just wanted the lonelyness to end.The pain of sadness to end.
I want it to belong .As time went on, I heard it was a another convoy from east. So I went to Costco I fill up my van with pretty much everything I could find like case in case of water and food and sandwiches and everything.And went on my way.
I went to the truck stop at Vankleek Hill and thru the night I started giving those truckers and people case and case of water and sandwiches and food and I felt useful for once in so many years.
I felt like I always wanted, I felt proud of myself.Usefull. I felt those feeling that I thought were so lost for so long ,as the night went on the noise of the horn ,the honking, the people yelling freedom,fireworks, I felt like I was home for once.I felt part of something.
I remember Sonny who died alone in the hospital in june 2020. I couldn't see him because of COVID .He was my best friend he was my mentor and was like a dad to me and I said to myself ,this is for you Sonny.
And the next day was another adventure. I went to Ottawa following now the convoy from East, so from Alberta to Ottawa with the first convoy West, and East convoy to Ottawa with the second convoy and as I tried to get downtown there was pretty much impossible.
And there was so many people and it was the biggest mess ever.So many people.Everyone had their views and points,ideas.All.i wanted is to feel usefull.But it became bigger then anything ever imagine,we had fanatic,crazies.But mostly what i saw was Canadian helping Canadian.I saw 3 tent that cooked food all days,feeds the homeless.Lot's of compassion,people there for eachother.Donation came in by the truck load.
So as Christian i ask what can I do to help and I started doing a grid of Ottawa and bring people gas ,food and blanket.5 am to 10 pm 7 days a week.For almost 3 weeks.
I heard there was a lot of donation in manys area of Ottawa.Like rally points. I started taking donation and bring it to the trucker like water,blanket , food,diesel.Out of my own pocket.
I'm here to help. Now, I just wanted to belong. All I ever want to do in my life is have the little tap on my shoulder.I used all my saving 13 350$ and gave cash,gas card and fill jerry can,slipt tank.
I'm proud of you. Nobody has ever told me that. So I filled up slip tank after slip tank. am I etransfer a lot of cash to people,and given money to captain,people in charge.. And fill Jerry can after jerry can of gas (218 in 3 weeks)
I remember on the 14th My bank account has been frozen. I was like, Well I'm just a volunteer.I am just trying to help.I am not a organiser,why?No answer from cops.
And the week before that about 500 Police storm the Campement and took all the gas and everything so, you know it's all I wanted to do is my part I wanted to help but after that night being pushed away, been used I felt so sad so empty and I had a little cash left on me.
So I got one more call for fuel on the 15 the February 2022,to bring people gas and I got surrounded by cop car. My Windows smash arrested,pepper sprayed, my van tossed,searched away and everything I had in the van meds blankets sleeping bag just tossed away on the street and the gas that was inside my van was taken.
My van was also taken,I was giving a paper I'm not supposed to give be in the 100 kilometer radius of Ottawa so I went to the main office where the convoy organiser are and I brought all my gas receipt,bank statement But never had a refund.
We will soon refund you,go home., you're going to get a refund no problem. I'm like okay, and I sent them four emails and never get any answer. I was like okay, so I cross over to the bridge in Quebec and I got van for I 350 a month for a year .
Decided to drive home,my heart empty,broke,sad,more lonely then i ever felt.
I tried to drive back home as as the day went on the road was so lonely.My best friend died in june 202 and i have been roaming everywhere for two years until I found my place here in Alberta .I had a very hard child hood.The one that raise me were bad people,the reason why i never use my real last name,my dad also was part of this.So i use my mother's name that i never knew.
I had no point of view about mandate or anything else. All I wanted to do is belong. I wanted to help and I struggle with my faith and my belief I thought it was my calling to go to Ottawa I left everything my business my job my house.
I know God has a plan for me. But I don't know what it is. As I wrote this line this morning I pray that something comes up because with dealing with cancer sleeping in a van that minus 20 is not easy. Do I regret going to Ottawa of course i do! Would i do it again? Probably not!
The convoy did so much damage to the people in Ottawa and I feel bad you know, I have a soft heart and I have a good heart so all ever wanted to do was just to help like any good Christian would do and now all I'm left is with the silence of the morning.
Alone,sad,with the emptyness of a field ahead of me,the wind is my only friend now.I feel used and abuse.All my saving gone.With no hope ahead.I was called a hero,savior.Somewhere i have my place,i never let anything bring me down.
May be one day i will day my own convoy and find a place to call home.
LOOSING MY HOUSE🙏🇨🇦
My landlord who i had a month to month contract.Didn't like getting a call from the cops for me.All this for bringing people gas🇨🇦
CALL WITH BANK FEBRUARY 14 2022
Start as 14:55 ,my account frozen and tell how much i have spent of my own pocket.Helping the cause
MY HOUSE NOW..
Delivering fuel,food,restaurant 5 am to 10 om 7 days a week🇨🇦🙏
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT2eMEy_8os&ab_channel=DerangedJustinTrudeauCritics
Thrown Under The Bus By Freedom Convoy | Supporter Now Broke & Homeless - Martin Joseph Anglehart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkQGalDUPT4&ab_channel=WatchlistTYT
Man Conned Out Of $13K For Supporting Truckers
341 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uZSAxw4dsk&ab_channel=RebelNews
CBC debunked: The true story of the Freedom Convoy's 'victim'
417 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc3xECdSJms&ab_channel=RebelNews
A deeper dive into the CBC's debunked convoy victim story
205 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CPgnAj7YGk&ab_channel=RebelNews
CBC's false Freedom Convoy victim: The end of a saga
328 Comments
https://thepostmillennial.com/cbcs-regretful-trucker-convoy-protester-story
CBC's 'regretful' trucker convoy protester story falls apart
Based on all evidence reviewed by The Post Millennial, it appears legacy media has taken advantage of a sick man as a means to promote a false narrative.
Salivating at the idea of a "gullible right wing" mascot, CBC seemingly ran this story to project the narrative that the Freedom Convoy took advantage of this well meaning man and that he is now regretful for taking part in the protest. However, new evidence suggests CBC ran this story without conducting the most basic level of investigation.
In addition to CBC, CTV also ran a story on Anglehart where he says he is "sorry to the people of Ottawa,” noting how they "had to endure all the horns and all the weirdos." Anglehart also says he never really had a stance on the mandates, but allegedly gave all his life savings away anyhow. This was believable enough to legacy media.
Nonetheless, he alleges to have joined the protest because he was upset that he wasn’t able to say goodbye to his dying friend in hospital, due to pandemic restrictions. There is no corroboration for this happening.
Anglehart's story is now being disputed by countless individuals who were with him either in Ottawa or have been victims of his scams across the country. Many aspects of CBC's piece are self-evidently suspicious, but most were pointed out by Fox News Producer Gregg Re, who created a Twitter thread of all the falsehoods.
Firstly, Anglehart alleges he was arrested on February 15. CBC provides a ticket from the 10th as proof, but this ticket is not evidence of an arrest. Secondly, CBC reports that Anglehart's bank account has been "frozen," but bank statements obtained by The Post Millennial show this not to be true. CBC neglected to check where these e-transfer were being sent or request withdrawal receipts.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that these are the identical bank statements given to CBC as evidence. Not only does CBC misconstrue these statements, but the outlet seemingly neglects to point out that Anglehart is receiving security benefits from two separate provinces.
Beyond the inconsistencies in Anglehart's story, there are numerous individuals who have publicly accused Anglehart of scamming them with fake sob stories.
"This guy is a well known scammer around Sault Ste Marie. I hosted him for a night my friend hosted him for a week and nothing added up with him," said Susan Lediett, one of many people alleging to know Anglehart and his grift.
"Scammed many with his false stories of being ex forces with PTSD and terminal cancer and was robbed. Many gave him money, bought him a new laptop and a bus ticket to a Ottawa treatment facility and set up a GoFundMe," she continues. "He returned a year plus later with similar stories and gained a larger GoFundMe 'payroll' but skipped town when someone found out he did no service."
In addition to various posts and text messages, one individual recounted his experience with Anglehart in a six-minute YouTube video. Dave from Live From The Shed has over twenty-four thousand subscribers and echoes the experiences of Anglehart's other alleged victims.
"Martin Joseph Angelhart. If you're watching, you'll remember me," the YouTuber begins saying in his video. He then walked through Anglehart's claims and disputed his entire story. On the contrary, not only did Anglehart not give away his life savings, he allegedly scammed numerous individuals out of thousands of dollars. One of these individuals is the YouTuber himself, who gave Anglehart $1,000. The Post Millennial has reviewed evidence of this transaction, which supposedly took place after Anglehart told the YouTuber that he was living in his van and had terminal cancer.
Despite his false story, the YouTuber highlights that Anglehart is suffering from mental illness and has repeatedly threatened suicide. In an interview with The Post Millennial, the YouTuber shared messages where Anglehart talked about setting himself on fire in front of Parliament Hill.
Based on evidence given to The Post Millennial, it would appear as though Anglehart is a man with mental health challenges who has been used as a prop by the CBC.
The YouTuber concluded his video by slamming legacy media for their sloppy coverage. "To the CBC and CTV, please start doing some real journalism and some real research so us YouTubers don't need to do it for you."
In the phone interview with The Post Millennial, the YouTuber said Anglehart was kicked out of the protest because he was trying to collect people's personal data and presented his email to people as a way to financially support the convoy. The latter evidence has been reviewed by The Post Millennial.
Based on all evidence collected by The Post Millennial, it would appear as though Anglehart has continuously taken advantage of the kind hearts of strangers. However, it now appears that legacy media has taken advantage of a sick man as a means to promote a false narrative.
The Post Millennial reached out to CBC for comment but did not receive a reply by publication.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kfFqL9TkOk&ab_channel=LiveFromTheShed
A message to Martin Joseph Anglehart from your Freedom Convoy brother.
307 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCm1z3A9Tns&ab_channel=LiveFromTheShed
News and updates with special guests @trucker.tyler @ashleywapshaww and @shotsbyhill (insta)
50 Comments
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/trucker-uprising-hits-key-artery-in-us-canada-car-industry/
Trucker uprising hits key artery in US-Canada car industry
February 11, 2022
The Canadian trucker protest has temporarily sidelined a key auto industry transport route, adding stress to a North American car industry already pinched by low inventories and supply chain problems that have sent vehicle price soaring.
Several leading automakers said Thursday they reduced production and cut labor shifts due to the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, which links Windsor, Canada with the US city of Detroit.
The bridge has been essentially off-line since Monday night as a two-week uprising led by truckers protesting against coronavirus restrictions has spread from the Canadian capital.
The route is a crucial gateway for the car industries in the neighboring nations, in a region that is effectively a “giant auto industry cluster,” said Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University.
Miller said finished goods pass north and south over the bridge, while parts and components may cross the border six or seven times during the manufacturing process, making the country of origin essentially irrelevant for the auto industry.
The bridge is used daily by more than 40,000 commuters and tourists, along with trucks carrying $323 million worth of goods on average.
The car industry has relied on easy and reliable access to the bridge since the 1960s, said Fraser Johnson, a supply chain expert at Ivey Business School at Western University.
In an era of “just in time” inventories, “the plants may have anywhere from just a few hours of inventory to just a few days of inventory,” he said.
“So as soon as we get disruptions like this, then that puts the continuous operation of the car plants and their supplier in jeopardy.”
– Worsening the ‘already bad’ situation –
Canadian and American officials and industry groups have warned of
significant damage to trade and employment if the disruption is
prolonged.
So far, auto companies have described the impact as meaningful but limited.
Ford is running its Canadian plants in Oakville and Windsor at “reduced capacity,” a company spokesperson said. “We hope this situation is resolved quickly because it could have widespread impact on all automakers in the US and Canada.”
A Toyota spokesperson alluded to existing supply shortages, adding that plants in Canada and the state of Kentucky have been affected by “this most recent challenge.”
Toyota expects disruption through the weekend but “we do not anticipate any impact to employment at this time,” the official said.
After shortening second shifts at some of its US and Canadian plants on Wednesday, Stellantis on Thursday cut short a day shift at one of its Canadian plants, a company spokesperson said.
General Motors canceled one shift at a Lansing, Michigan plant on Thursday and sent assembly workers home a couple of hours early from the first shift at a Flint plant, a GM spokesman said.
The disruption comes as US inventories of new vehicles remain extremely low, and used car prices are still elevated, although the massive increases seen last year have slowed.
Automakers have offered mixed appraisals on the semiconductor picture that has impacted manufacturing. Most companies expect the shortage to ease somewhat in 2022 as long as there are no more semiconductor outages due to Covid-19 restrictions or other unforeseeable reasons. But supply is likely to remain tight through at least mid-year.
“This is piling on to top of an already bad situation — the microchip shortage, a situation that is not getting solved,” said Karl Brauer, analyst at iSeeCars.com.
And Johnson said the disruption at Ambassador Bridge is not easily solved with alternative routes. For example, shifting traffic through Buffalo is problematic because the city’s roads lack the infrastructure to handle truck traffic.
Miller said the route also is an important road for other raw materials and goods, such as aluminum exported from Canada to the United States, or plastics shipped in the opposite direction.
“For the auto industry, it’s very worrisome,” said Miller, who warned the pain will spread to other sectors if the blockade drags on.
Help Wendell Keep his Iconic Truck
Campaign Created by: Theresa Snell
Wendell Thorndyke needs little introduction. His now world famous truck and trailer was among the first to roll into downtown Ottawa and among the last to leave. He parked right in front of Parliament Hill, and the truck didn’t move until it was towed away by police three weeks later.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Wendell during our time together in Ottawa. Every day his routine was the same, he’d rise and make his way from the hotel to sit for the entire day in his truck. He told me it was his duty to be in the truck as much as possible, to shake every hand, hear every story and encourage all that he could to keep holding the line for our freedom.
His was required to pay impound and towing fees on both his truck and trailer. In addition to his time on Wellington street, his truck was impounded for another 7 days which further got him behind financially. He is the last person to ask for help as he has always been someone who was sure to take care of himself and his family in addition to helping others.
The reality is though that he needs help and when he told me that he had been looking at selling his iconic truck I knew that something had to be done and he finally agreed to accept our help.
I know that each of you would never want to see this beautiful truck driven by anyone but our beloved Wendell and so I am asking for your help to get him back on his feet financially. Thank you everyone.
Dave, Live From The Shed
https://www.givesendgo.com/G2Z5M
Legal Defense for Csaba
Campaign Created by: Theresa Snell
Csaba was on the front lines with us right until the end, and faces multiple injuries due to police brutality during his arrest. He faces 3 criminal charges, and has had to retain a lawyer. His first court date is April 5. He hasn't been able to work since the beginning of January, and needs his convoy family to help him. You can see Csaba talk more about what happened to him before and during his arrest
Legal Defense for Jay the Shed Dweller VanderWier
Campaign Created by: Theresa Snell
In January 2022, Jay stepped up to the plate along with many other truckers to fight for the rights and freedoms of all Canadians. As a part of that fight, Jay and his shed found himself at the frontlines on Wellington St in Ottawa, and they became an icon in the fight for our rights and freedoms. Jay became a block captain and a leader for the other rigs on Wellington St. He formed a very close knit family and many consider him a brother.
Unfortunately, as a part of
that battle, Jay was arrested on Saturday February 19, 2022, as police
forces brutally and sometimes violently pushed back supporters.
Thankfully Jay has been released, but he now faces 4 criminal charges in
relation to his participation with Freedom Convoy 2022.
Gregg Re
Gregg Re is producer of "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on the Fox News Channel. He has an A.B. from Georgetown University and a J.D. from New York University School of Law, where he edited the Law Review. Follow him on Twitter @gregg_re or email him at gregory.re@fox.com.
https://twitter.com/gregg_re/status/1507749746030559232
Thread
No comments:
Post a Comment