Three Years On

Celebrating Jerry can defiance.

Click image to see this tweet on X.

Yesterday was the third anniversary of the tweet that appears above. The Ottawa Police had made an important announcement: “Anyone attempting to bring material supports (gas, etc.) to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest. Enforcement is underway.”

Tomorrow is the third anniversary of the Jerry Can Brigade. That brilliant publicity stunt; that timely, playful, visually powerful response to both the above threat issued on Sunday afternoon, and the Sunday evening fuel raid on the Coventry supply depot.

A woman I interviewed described seeing video on her phone of a line of people carrying red gas cans. Watching that, she said, it felt like magic. I agree. It was a magical moment in Canadian history. Worthy of being celebrated and savoured.

Ordinary Canadians openly defied the authorities. Individuals from all walks of life cheerfully told the police to shove it. From then onward, people commonly brought Jerry cans to this protest. Some were filled with fuel, some were decoys.

Via numerous avenues, fuel found its way to the truckers. The public spoke.

See also:

• Cheerful Defiance: How ordinary Canadians responded to police threats.

• Freedom Juice: How the humble Jerry Can became a symbol of public defiance.

• Jerry Can Brigade: I was the only journalist to observe this brilliant publicity stunt firsthand.

• Iconic Good Humour: One of the best moments in the Freedom Convoy protest happened a year ago yesterday.