You may not know Mike Quigley, but you鈥檝e seen him if you鈥檝e looked up at the Westside Road and Dayton Street overpasses while travelling along Highway 97.
You鈥檝e also seen the signs he displays in support of Tamara Lich.
If you don鈥檛 know who that is, Quigley is more than happy to talk to you about her.
鈥淪he may be guilty, she may be innocent鈥ut to see the process of what is being presented here has got to be scary for our children,鈥� Quigley said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 on the bridge introducing myself to thousands.鈥�
Lich, along with co-accused Chris Barber, faces several charges including mischief and counselling others to commit mischief, for organizing the protest that gridlocked downtown Ottawa for three weeks in Jan. 2022.
While hundreds of vehicles blocked city streets, thousands of people protested COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions.
It prompted the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act for the first time in this nation鈥檚 history.
The trial of Lich and Barber resumed in Ottawa on Oct. 26.
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Quigley said many people he has talked to don鈥檛 know who Lich is, and he finds that concerning.
He agreed that the major disruption to Ottawa caused by the protest was intolerable, but claimed Lich is being treated as a political prisoner.
鈥淚 believe the country is at a watershed moment in its history. If people take the time and understand what is happening I am encouraged by the possibility of them understanding that her whole purpose is to protect our opportunity of opinion.鈥�
Quigley has met several people who don鈥檛 appreciate what he is doing, including one man who gave him the 鈥榦ne-finger salute.鈥�
鈥淚 thanked him that he had an opinion. It doesn鈥檛 matter if we agreed or disagreed. He realized that was correct.鈥�
On whether Lich is guilty as charged, Quigley said he has received varying responses.
鈥淪ome support her and others believe she should go to prison. There are some that just don鈥檛 care.鈥�
Quigley met Lich in September during a stop in Vernon for her book signing tour.
That鈥檚 when he came up with the idea of promoting the 鈥楾amara hug.鈥�
鈥淪he hugged me and this hug went right through my soul,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭hrough a 鈥楾amara hug鈥� we can win and love wins over hate.鈥�
He is also encouraging people to donate to her defence fund.
Quigley said his plan is to be on the overpasses for 57 days, the amount of time Lich spent in jail, pre-trial.
Her lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, has said that鈥檚 unusual for nonviolent offences, and for an individual with no criminal record.
While her trial continues, Quigley is hoping people will take the time to listen to the message behind his signs.
鈥淭his movement鈥o movement is a bad term,鈥� he corrects. 鈥淚f people could understand the power of what this is, it may not be confined to my efforts to just 麻豆精选 or West 麻豆精选. That would be my hope.鈥�
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