By Lethbridge Herald on September 19, 2023.
Delon Shurtz
Lethbridge Herald
Using the same kind of language that got in him trouble in the first place, Calgary Pastor Artur Pawlowski urged his supporters to âhold the lineâ in their fight against what he calls the political liars, manipulators and traitors who are oppressing Canadians and taking away their rights.
âI hope that my oppressors are listening, because this is not over, this is just the beginning,â Pawlowski said Monday, only minutes after a judge sentenced him to 60 days in jail for mischief and breaching release orders.
Pawlowski wonât serve any more time in custody, however, after Justice Gordon Krinke gave him credit for time he already spent in remand custody, effectively completing his sentence.
Close to 200 supporters inside and outside the Lethbridge courthouse cheered Krinkeâs sentence which, while more than the eight days sought by defence, is considerably less than the eight to 10 months recommended by the Crown.
Pawlowski was found guilty in May on one count each of mischief, by inciting protesters at the Coutts border last year to continue the illegal blockade, and breaching conditions of an earlier release order to keep the peace.
Pawlowski attended the blockade on Feb. 3, 2022, and during an impassioned speech told protesters as they prepared to leave the border crossing and take the protest to Edmonton, to remain and not give up the fight.
âDonât you dare break the line,â he said.
In his finding of guilt last May, Krinke said âI am satisfied Mr. Pawlowski intended to incite the audience to continue the blockade, intended to incite protesters to commit mischief.â Krinke said Pawlowski also failed to keep the peace when he counselled others to commit criminal offences.
However, during Mondayâs sentencing hearing Krinke said Pawlowski was not involved in the planning of the so-called âFreedom Convoyâ and didnât play a major role with his appearance at the border blockade.
Crown Prosecutor Steven Johnston pointed out the case is not about freedom of religion or freedom of speech, both of which Pawlowski had previously referenced.
âThis case is a straight forward criminal case in which the importance of the rule of law must be reaffirmed,â Johnston said.
He said Pawlowskiâs lack of remorse and his belief that he didnât do anything wrong, indicate that he will continue to break the law in the future, unless he is specifically deterred by a significant jail sentence.
âItâs about general deterrence for other people who might think that itâs a good idea to have a protest and break the law, and itâs also, for this accused specifically, so that he realizes that by doing the same sort of thing again, antagonizing a group of people to break the law is itself against the law, and the consequence is he will go to jail.â
Following his guilty verdict four months ago, Pawlowski told reporters and supporters he would do it all over again, and that he was proud to fight for the rights and freedoms of Canadians.
âIâm not ashamed of what I did,â he said. âIf I had a chance to do it again, Iâll do it again, gladly.â
And following Mondayâs hearing, he urged people to continue the fight against oppression and to stop voting the same politicians, the âbeastsâ and âmonsters,â into power.
âWe must plow. We must stand up. Hold the line. Hold line Canadians, hold the line Albertans.â
Pawlowskiâs lawyer Sarah Miller painted a different picture of her client than the one painted by the Crown, and said he is a âteddy bearâ and a kind man of integrity and honour. She also said there is no indication that he does not respect the rule of law, although he may disagree with it.
20
god told me that it is due to the massive prayers that the sentence is 60 days, otherwise would have been 61 days.