Theo Moudakis Receives Veiled Death Threats Over Convoy Cartoon

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The Freedom Convoy 2022 is continuing to bring the worst out of humanity. In part, it has targeted Theo Moudakis.

Several media outlets have repeatedly told viewers that the so-called “Freedom Convoy 2022” was nothing more than a peaceful and orderly demonstration. However, evidence continues to pour in that suggests otherwise. Between stories of supporters urinating in public, threatening staff working at soup kitchens, defacing the Terry Fox statue, and, most sickeningly, dancing and jumping on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while parking on the grounds and stairs where parking is not allowed.

Unsurprisingly, Canadians are less than thrilled with everything this demonstration actually represents. With the call to end all mandates carries the idea of removing the very mandates that have, at least, kept a number of Canadian’s safe. Without those mandates, COVID-19 exposures and hospitalizations would be much higher. The science is very clear on this and the only people disputing this are those that are really just disputing science.

Because of the actions we are seeing, the image being portrayed of this being a calm, orderly, and peaceful demonstration is continuing to erode. While all of this is outside of the mandate of what sort of activity we choose to cover, what we are beginning to see is, in fact, falling well within the topics of what we cover: free speech and freedom of the press.

It started with Theo Moudakis posting a political cartoon. This was published in the Toronto Star (which we have disagreed with plenty of times over their questionable editorial decisions from time to time). This cartoon was also posted on Moudakis’ twitter feed as well:

Personally, it does accurately depict how many hard working Canadians do feel about the so-called “Freedom Convoy”. It is trafficking disinformation and it is divorced from any kind of reality of what they actually can accomplish. Even if they somehow convince the Canadian government to drop all mandates (which is largely in the provincial jurisdiction, mind you), the US will not even come close to changing their minds on the whole situation. As a result, nothing they do on the Parliamentary grounds will ever actually change anything in the first place.

Regardless, many Canadians do, in fact, feel run over by this source of disinformation in Ottawa right now. Their voices are basically overshadowed by this fringe group of protesters who somehow feel that their rights are violated because they refuse to do what is necessary to keep their job. What’s more is that employers can demand that employees get vaccinated as part of the requirements to get a job in the first place. As widely circulated as well, some 90% of truckers are fully vaccinated and are willing to work. Some drivers feel that their voice has been hijacked by what is taking place in Ottawa.

So, unsurprisingly, this cartoon really does feel spot on in so many ways.

Unsurprisingly, far right voices were not happy about it. As a result of seeing someone post something that they disagree with, some are doing very unCanadian things including threatening the cartoonist.

https://twitter.com/Steve342239981/status/1486503484484734976

Totally disconnected and tone deaf. You’re going to see. A reckoning is coming.

Going to enjoy your trial

https://twitter.com/WVeiith/status/1486533506071203850

You’re a POS! And congratulations! You’ve been put on our list. It’s not a winner’s list either.

Protesting for freedom is extremism?!

Theo belongs with the rest of them when this is over. Prison.

https://twitter.com/SMiltonburger/status/1486677078665744390

I love your ignorant righteousness with your doodles. Destroying your legacy one day at a time. We won’t forget you, Theo.

Its time for the reckoning and you will be brought to account

The cartoonist, meanwhile, is taking it all in stride:

The actions fit’s the pattern of what we’ve seen before with far right wing voices in the past. During the election last year, the People’s Party of Canada said, directly in their platform, that they fully support freedom of expression – unless its expression they happen to disagree with. It’s the exact same pattern here. Convoy supporters will happily scrawl “freedom” on their trucks and loudly proclaim that they support free speech. Yet, when they encounter speech they oppose, well, you can plainly see from the above how they react.

For the most part, the cartoonist did get a lot of support in response to the cartoon:

You are great, Theo. Keep up the great work. Ignore the Far Right extremists trolling you.

Brilliant Theo! Apparently too subtle for some, but for the rest of us, spot on!

Honestly thank you for this cartoon!

https://twitter.com/mat_schmaltz/status/1486451269908811781

Agree.

I have always been a proponent of a more open border between the US and Canada. But I don’t feel like this trucker convoy thing is about that.

I love the symbolism of this. Disinformation and Extremism running over the country in the form of the beaver. A very cogent commentary there.

https://twitter.com/rstirling6/status/1487431129410019334

This is one for the ages.
Well-done.

Obviously, the only reasonable response to the people issuing the threats is to condemn it. The comments threatening the artist crosses the line. It’s one thing to disagree with the message, but it is entirely another to react in a way that harasses and intimidates in a way that is meant to silence the artist. That kind of discourse has no place in Canada. What’s more is that some of these comments against the artist are probably illegal to begin with.

Of course, the question then becomes, what to do in this situation? That is actually very straight forward. First, report the comments to Twitter. They are clearly in violation of the Twitter Community Guidelines. The relevant sections are as follows:

Violence: You may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people. We also prohibit the glorification of violence. Learn more about our violent threat and glorification of violence policies.

Abuse/harassment: You may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so. This includes wishing or hoping that someone experiences physical harm. Learn more.

In the event Twitter does not enforce these rules, there is always contacting the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and reporting their activities. Should the RCMP not do so, then there are plenty of legal mechanisms to hold the police accountable for their inaction. So, as far as we are concerned, there are other options available to the artist in question.

The other thing worth pointing out is the fact that there are plenty of users that support this artist in all of this. Some examples:

Does this mean that @Em_jay2
is against free speech ???

https://twitter.com/s_schwinghamer/status/1486532432471941120

None of us can be free until we criminalize artistic expression.

Yikes! A list!

So, for what it’s worth, while there was certainly some intense nastiness from right wingers, there was some good that came from this as well. It’s unfortunate that any of this happened in the first place, but from what we’ve seen from those less than charming individuals supporting the Convoy right now, not entirely surprising, either.

Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.

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