Tamara Lich and Freedom Convoy organizer Chris Barber are set to stand trial in Ottawa starting tomorrow, Tuesday, for their roles in the three-week protest that gripped downtown streets and led to a national emergency declaration.

Lich and Barber face shared charges of mischief, obstruction of police, counselling others to commit mischief, and intimidation.

Many of the charges hinge on whether Lich and Barber encouraged demonstrators to defy police orders by staying in Ottawa after authorities ordered everyone to leave the streets, and if so, whether that constituted a criminal act.

For their part, Lich and Barber's lawyers stated in a joint statement on Friday: "We do not expect this to be a Freedom Convoy trial." "The key issue will be whether the actions of two organizers of a peaceful protest merit criminal punishment."

Lich told a federal inquiry last year that when she asked her supporters to "stand firm" she was not encouraging them to stay in the capital, but rather "to stay true to their values in the face of adversity."

The trial is expected to last at least 16 days and will likely include hundreds of social media posts from Lich, Barber, and others, including live-streamed videos throughout the protest, where organizers used live videos to document their experience and share thoughts and updates with supporters.

The court may also consider Barber's private text messages with Lich, which were obtained by Ottawa police and entered as evidence during one of last year's bail hearings.

The "Freedom Convoy" was born out of a conversation between Barber, who runs a trucking company in Saskatchewan, and fellow trucker Bridgette Belton on the social media platform TikTok, where they were discussing public health measures related to COVID-19 in early 2022.

They specifically wanted to find a way to protest the vaccine mandates that went into effect for truck drivers crossing the U.S. border who would have to quarantine for 14 days if unvaccinated.

The idea quickly gained traction and attracted support from Lich, who lives in Alberta and had served as a founding board member of the nascent Maverick Party. She was also a former supporter of the "Yellow Vest" movement that protested federal oil and gas policies, but the Canadian Anti-Hate Network says she has been co-opted by extreme right-wing groups and anti-Muslim extremists.

As more organizers and supporters joined, the goals of the protest also broadened. By the time they arrived in Ottawa, the stated goals included opposition to all pandemic public health orders, and for some, the overthrow of the elected government.

Since their arrest, they have not been allowed to speak with each other without the presence of a lawyer. Their communications have been facilitated through Keith Wilson, who acted as a consultant for the organizers during the protests.

Lich told a crowd earlier this month at an event in Vernon, British Columbia, promoting her book: "Chris and I started this together as a team, and we feel we need to end it as a team."

The demonstration in Ottawa drew international attention as protesters arrived by the thousands and refused to leave. Occasional protests also led to blockades at several international border crossings between Canada and the United States.

Large trucks were parked in the downtown and residential streets, disrupting traffic and unleashing loud air horns at all hours in what became a winter festival lasting weeks, complete with fireworks, live entertainment, bouncy castles, and a popular outdoor hot tub.

In the meantime, some locals and politicians described the protest as an "occupation" that left their community in chaos. They lived with a constant chorus of air horns, and some said they felt scared or unable to leave their homes.

Many businesses, including the nearby CF Rideau Center mall, closed their doors as a precautionary measure.