More than a month after the so-called “Freedom Convoy” occupied downtown Ottawa, one protester says he regrets taking part.
Martin Joseph Anglehart says he spent all of his life savings helping people with the convoy, and is now living out of his vehicle near Kenora, Ont.
Anglehart says he only joined the protest because he wanted to feel part of something after months of feeling lonely.
“I’m still as alone as I was two months ago,” said the 41-year-old from his car. “I still don’t have friends and I still don’t have family. I’m living in the back of a fricken car, so yah, I regret going.”
Anglehart joined the convoy in Medicine Hat, Alta., where he then travelled with the group to Ottawa in January.
He said he spent more than $13,000, his entire life savings.
Anglehart wasn’t passionate about the cause, but joined the convoy because he was upset that he wasn’t able to say goodbye to his closest friend in hospital, who later died of cancer, because of pandemic restrictions.
“Loneliness was one of the worst things for me,” Anglehart said.
After arriving in the nation’s capital, he wanted to help and quickly got involved in transferring thousands of dollars in cash for occupiers, as well as purchasing food and fuel.