Pat King (activist)

Patrick James King[1] is a Canadian far-right activist[2] and conspiracy theorist[3] from Red Deer, most recently based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Pat King
Born
Patrick James King

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
CitizenshipCanadian
OrganizationUnited We Roll (campaign)
Known forWhite-nationalism,
Conspiracy theories,
Anti-COVID-19 lockdown activism

He is known for protesting COVID-19 mandates. He has led the Wexit movement advocating for secession from Canada of Alberta and other western provinces, led the United We Roll movement, and acted as a regional organizer for the Canada convoy protest.

King was arrested on February 18, 2022, at the Canada convoy protests in Ottawa and faces multiple charges.

Activism and demonstration

King is highly active on social media.[4]

Western Canada secessionism

In 2019, King was an organizer of the Wexit movement that advocated for Canada's prairie provinces to secede.[5][6][7][8]

United We Roll
Main article: Yellow vests movement (Canada)

King was a co-organizer,[9] and a driver[10] for the United We Roll yellow vest protest in 2019 and spoke of the importance of a gas pipeline, and the employment benefits of the oil and gas industry.[11][4] He also spoke of the national benefit of the Albertan economy and the lack of support to Albertans in 2019.[11] King later stated that the CBC distorted the messages of the movement.[12]

Alberta anti-racist protest

King was part of a right-wing counter protest to an anti-racist demonstration in Red Deer in 2020 where he was noted for saying: "That’s patriots kicking antifa out of their towns!"[13]

In September 2020, he organized a second counter-protest in Ponoka and threatened violence against anti-racist protests who he characterized as Antifa.[13][14]

COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
See also: COVID-19 protests in Canada

In August 2021, King and Chris Sky visited Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and spoke as part of a No-Vaxx Pass tour, in which they advocated for Canadians to defy the rules about vaccine passports.[15] Also in August, King incorrectly claimed that his actions led to easing of COVID-19 public health measures in Alberta.[16][17][18] His misunderstanding was a result of him misreading court documents rejecting his appeal against a parking ticket.[16] This led to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms stating that: "It is unclear whether Mr. King fully understands the legal process he is involved in."[1]

In October 2021, King broadcast a video, falsely claiming that the Canadian military had set up a base at Black Lake Denesuline First Nation and were forcing COVID-19 vaccinations on women and children.[6] The video went viral, resulting in pressure upon the Athabasca Health Authority and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations to put out statements, correcting the misinformation.[6][19]

Also in November 2021, King claimed there was no evidence that COVID-19 exists, in a social media message.[20]

Also in December, King said of the public health measures: "The only way this is going to be solved is with bullets."[21]

2021 Federal election

King has accused Justin Trudeau of stealing the 2021 Canadian federal election and in the lead up to the Canada convoy protest advised his social media followers to stock up on food and supplies as preparation for "what's coming".[22]

Canada convoy protest

King was a regional organizer and one of the highest profile promoters of the 2022 Canada convoy protest in Ottawa.[23][22]

Responding to a question about the impact of noise on Ottawa residents, King expressed amusement.[24]

In the lead up to the Ottawa protest, MP Jeremy Patzer stated that he had no association with King after meeting him as the protest convoy passed through Swift Current.[25]

King was arrested on February 18, 2022.[26]

Arrest, charges, and detention

King was arrested on February 18, 2022, during the convoy protests as part of a police operation aimed at peacefully ending the occupation.[27] He broadcast the arrest via his Facebook page.[27] He was charged with mischief, counselling to commit mischief, perjury, obstruction of justice, counselling to disobey a court order, and counselling to obstruct police.[28][29] He is held in the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.[30]

King was denied bail after the Justice of the Peace determined that there was a substantive likelihood of King reoffending given his criminal history and the overwhelming case presented by the Crown.[28] His lawyer had argued for bail due to the risk that King could catch COVID-19 in jail while awaiting trial. This prompted the judge to address the irony of the situation: "an individual whose raison d'etre is to protest vehemently against public health measures designed to reduce the spread of COVID, would now suggest that the delay or the potential for being infected at a detention centre could impact the court's decision."[31]

On March 24, 2022, an additional four charges were laid against King, who is now co-accused with Tyson George Billings, bringing the new total to ten charges: two counts of obstructing police, two counts of intimidation, one count of counselling intimidation, one count of disobeying a court order, counselling to commit mischief, mischief, counselling to disobey a court order, and counselling to obstruct police.[32]

Views and conspiracy theories

King has a history of anti-Muslim, white nationalist, and far-right conspiracy theories.[5][23] He has shared videos online promoting the white genocide conspiracy theory,[24] including saying on social media "There’s an endgame: It’s called depopulation of the Caucasian race."[22]

In 2020, King had a conversation with the Toronto Star in which he shared conflicting views about violence and "ranted" about left wing ideologies, Antifa, and cancel culture.[33]

King accused the government of Canada of permitting Islamic State terrorists to enter Canada as refugees, of "normalizing pedophilia", and of adopting an immigration policy to “depopulate the white, Anglo-Saxon race.”[5] He has advocated against a carbon tax, arguing that it puts Canadians at an economic disadvantage.[34]

King has said that the only way to end Canadian public health measures against COVID-19 may be achieved "with bullets".[35] King also commented that Justin Trudeau was going to catch a bullet.[35]

In 2021, he claimed that The Holocaust death toll of 6 million was overstated.[36]

Personal life

King is from Red Deer, Alberta, has lived in Penhold, Alberta and most recently lives in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.[1][12][37]

King has claimed Métis heritage, although that claim has been challenged by Métis community.[31]

See also

References
  1. "Justice Centre statement about "Freedom Fighter Court Victory" video". Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. August 5, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  2. "Canada protest convoy organizer Pat King denied bail". ABC News.
  3. Carpenter, Lorraine (January 27, 2022). "The trucker convoy organizer is an Islamophobic, homophobic conspiracy theorist". Cult MTL.
  4. Freeze, Colin (February 11, 2022). "Convoy protests' key figures count liberal ideas, 'political Islam,' Ottawa's indifference toward the West among their grievances". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  5. Zhou, Steven (October 30, 2019). "#Wexit Founders Are Far-Right Conspiracy Theorists". www.vice.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  6. Lamoureux, Mark; Zoledziowski, Anya (October 20, 2021). "A Conspiracy Theory Video Went Viral. An Indigenous Community Paid the Price". www.vice.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  7. Bureau, Brigitte (February 6, 2022). "Pat King : les appels à la violence d'un des organisateurs du convoi". Radio Canada.
  8. Mosleh, Omar (November 10, 2019). "Visionary or villain, he's the pied piper of Alberta's Wexit. But is the movement heading in a dangerous". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  9. Cochrane, David (September 14, 2019). "Liberals target NDP seats in opening phase of election campaign". CBC.
  10. Issawi, Hamdi (February 19, 2019). "Protesters greet Alberta-organized convoy on Parliament Hill". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  11. Osman, Laura (February 19, 2019). "What people are saying at the United We Roll protest". CBC.
  12. Moore, Edward (March 23, 2019). "United We Roll's messages 'distorted': King". saultstar. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  13. Mosleh, Omar (October 2, 2020). "What's it like to be a person of colour in Alberta? For some, it means facing overt racism, cruel comments and". The Toronto Star. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  14. Smith, Charlie (February 17, 2022). "Vaccine-mandate opponent and convoy organizer Pat King describes growing police presence in Ottawa". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  15. Palmer, Randy (November 13, 2021). "Duo attends No-Vaxx Pass tour rally in Moose Jaw". MooseJawToday.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  16. Lamoureux, Mark (August 12, 2021). "Inspiring! Man's Bad Reading Caused Anti-Lockdown Crowd to Tear Itself Apart". www.vice.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  17. Lajka, Arijeta (August 9, 2021). "Alberta did not lift COVID-19 restrictions because of 'freedom fighter'". AP NEWS. Associated Press. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  18. "Fact Check-Alberta court case not linked to lifting of COVID-19 restrictions". Reuters. August 7, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  19. Mandes, Jeanelle (October 18, 2021). "Statements made in Facebook video are not true, FSIN says | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  20. Dubois, Stephanie (November 22, 2021). "Misinformation in the courtroom: How cases challenging COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta have shifted". CBC.
  21. Helwig, David (February 11, 2022). "The former Sault man at the heart of the trucker convoy". SooToday.com. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  22. "Was it really about vaccine mandates — or something darker? The inside story of the convoy protests". The Toronto Star. March 19, 2022. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  23. Dale, Daniel (February 9, 2022). "Fact check: Debunking false claims about the Canadian convoy protests". CNN. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  24. "The former Sault man at the heart of the trucker convoy". SooToday.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  25. Simes, Jeremy. "Despite condemnations of 'despicable' actions, convoy support could hurt conservatives: analyst". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  26. ""Freedom Convoy" leader Pat King arrested live on social media".
  27. Payne, Elizabeth (February 18, 2022). ""Freedom Convoy" leader Pat King arrested live on social media". ottawacitizen. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  28. "'Freedom Convoy' leader Pat King denied bail, remains in jail". CBC. February 24, 2022.
  29. "'Freedom Convoy' leader Pat King charged with perjury, obstruction of justice". Ottawa. April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  30. Reynish, Dan. "More charges for Medicine Hat 'Freedom Convoy' organizer Tamara Lich". CHAT News Today. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  31. Helwig, David (February 28, 2022). "Pat King worries about catching COVID-19 in an overcrowded jail". SooToday.com. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  32. Priscilla Ki Sun Hwang, Trevor Pritchard (March 24, 2022). "'Freedom Convoy' leaders face new criminal charges". CBC.
  33. Mosleh, Omar (October 2, 2020). "What's it like to be a person of colour in Alberta? For some, it means facing overt racism, cruel comments and". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  34. "'We've been treated unfairly': Truck convoy sets off from Alberta to protest Ottawa's oil and gas policies". CBC. February 14, 2019.
  35. Ballingall, Alex (February 25, 2022). "'Freedom Convoy' organizer Pat King denied bail". The Toronto Star. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  36. Ling, Justin. "The problem with Ottawa's protesters". POLITICO.
  37. "Convoy organizer Pat King to remain in custody until at least Friday". saultstar. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
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