Freedom Convoy activist Pat King back on social media

Patrick King, the former Saultite who filled our television screens night after night during last year's Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa, is back on social media.

For the first time in almost a year and a half, the controversial activist returned twice to his 341,000-follower Facebook page on Friday afternoon and evening.

King is facing numerous charges related to his involvement in the convoy, which occupied downtown Ottawa and vowed to stay there until all COVID-19 mandates were lifted.

King and other convoy organizers were eventually arrested and charged, crowds were dispersed with help from police horses and tear gas, and federal and provincial emergency measures were withdrawn almost a month after the Ottawa protest began.

Last summer, King was released on bail, on an understanding that he would no longer participate in social media.

On Friday, he announced during a live presentation on Facebook that he has been granted permission by the court allowing him access to his social media accounts, but only to raise money to cover $170,000 in legal bills.

"I was granted permission to have my Facebook back, and have my platforms back, so that I can pay for my lawyers," he said.

King thanked his thousands of supporters, including those "who kept my mouth shut for all this damn time, I thank you!"

"I just want to say to a lot of people, it's been one tough, tough year and a half keeping this big mouth shut, but I did it."

"This [Facebook] page will only be used for generating money for my lawyers' costs and fees."

One planned fundraising event, King said, will be a rodeo and concert in mid-September in Caroline, Alberta.

His bank accounts remain frozen and he's unable to access his own cash, he added.

"Unfortunately, I'm not free. I still have a 10 o'clock curfew where the arseholes come and knock on my door at 10 o'clock."

"Unfortunately I'm not allowed to write a book. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to tell interviews and rub elbows with celebrities.... But I can run auctions. I can run fundraising campaigns and I can run events, which I will be."

"Spread it far and wide, ladies and gentlemen. Get it out there. Tell everybody. Let them know the King has returned."