Canada’s ‘Freedom Convoy’ may be over, but several Canadians still are grappling with just how horribly Prime Minister Trudeau — and some law enforcement — squashed the protest. Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski was arrested for speaking to the trucker convoy, even though he encouraged participants to remain peaceful. He details to Glenn the HORRIBLE mistreatment he endured while in prison. Plus, Pawlowski shares an important, powerful message when asked: Was it worth it?
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: There's breaking news. Multiple people have been shot at a Brooklyn subway station. Down in the subway, they found multiple unexploded devices. We don't have a lot of information at this point, but say a prayer for those who have been shot. And also that the police are protected and can catch this terrorist. I want to remind you, coming up at the top of next hour, so in about 35 minutes, I'm starting a series. A four-part series that will end on Friday. That is on America's God. Who is it that we worship? And are we doing this with our eyes wide open? America's God, coming up in just about a half-hour. I want to go to Canada, to talk to the Canadian pastor, that has been arrested over the COVID-19 rules. He's been arrested, I think 16 times now. He has just been jailed for speaking to Canadian trucker -- the trucker convoy.
And what he says happened in jail up in Canada, is third world country stuff. Artur Pawlowski is with us now.
Welcome, pastor. How are you?
ARTUR: Good, good. Thank you so much for having me in.
GLENN: Now, we had you in before. You were the guy that was supposed to recite a government-approved COVID warning before you talked to anybody.
ARTUR: Yes. That's correct. That's correct. Compiled speech.
GLENN: It seems like the good old takes, compared to what's happening now.
ARTUR: I know.
GLENN: Tell me -- tell me the latest -- because you've just been released from prison. But you're on house arrest. Facing a dozen criminal charges. Tell me what happened.
ARTUR: Oh, wow. Where to start. So you can tell, I grew up behind the Iron Curtain in Poland. Under the boots of the Soviets. So my parents decided enough is enough. They wanted to give us a better life. Me and my younger brother, David. And we emigrated through Turkey, to Greece. We spent a few years there. And then when Canada opened its borders, they said come to Canada, to the freest country on earth. Where no one will persecute you for your faith.
Well, we took that offer. We sold everything we had. We had some businesses in Greece. Then we emigrated to Canada. And behold, what a surprise right now. I have been facing over 100 court cases. 340 citations. And this was my 16th arrest. Why? Well, during the covid era, I think they have found a new way to deprive us from our right. To steal what rightfully belongs to us and the state. The Constitution. The chapter rights of freedom. The criminal code of Canada.
Was telling them, they cannot do what they do to us. However, we have entered an era of dictatorship. Canada is no longer a democracy. I call it Chinada.
I'm truly living, again, behind the Iron Curtain. I dare to speak at the rallies. I dare to tell the people, remember their names. That covid didn't do this to us. It's people.
Remember the premiers. Remember the police officers are arresting people for no reason. Just for peaceful assembly.
So I was invited to Coutts. Coutts is a port of entry. Between Alberta and Montana. And over there, there were truckers. And the eyes of the world were fixed on Coutts and (inaudible), fourteen kilometers from Coutts. When the people assembled and they said, listen, we are free Canadians, and we want to remain free Canadians. Who do you think Trudeau, you are? Who do you think you turncoat Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta, who do you think you are? You're supposed to represent us, the people. But you have waging a war against us.
So they decided to bring the attention of the world, what's happening in China, to the whole world. And then they assembled in Coutts. There was a few hundred people over there. And then when people learned, that there is this Alamo, if you will. This stand by the free people. They stand at McRiver. As you know, during that time, over a million people took part in the truck convoy. Including me and our church. We were feeding the truckers. I was giving speeches to the truckers.
GLENN: And you were -- and you were advising them to hold the line against the government. But you were also advising, be very careful, don't resort to violence. Just hold the line, and speak the truth. So you weren't doing anything that was inviting anyone. But then they arrested you, and put you in jail. And I saw a recent interview, where you said you were kept in a small cage for a while.
ARTUR: That's right. Everything comes from the premier's office and the so-called minister of justice, it used to be the minister of health, Taylor Sandro.
And both of those gentlemen were caught breaking the same mandates and the same restrictions in the sky palace. Hypocrisy, where they were partying, while we, my brother David and me, we were arrested by SWAT team in the middle of the road for encouraging people to participate in the church service, and officiating an illegal gathering, church service. So we spent three days and two nights at that time.
And then they arrested me after the Couths speech. And you're right. I said clearly, no violence, no guns, no swords. This is peaceful resistance. Solidarity-style movement. Mahatma Gandhi. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil rights movement. No violence. And no one stopped me. No one said a word. No one said you're illegally here. This is illegal purpose. No. Nothing like that. They actually let me in and let me out of the barricade, the police themselves. Two days later, it was a sting operation. Like, I felt like Escobar. El Chapo. You know, Al Capone. There were cruisers, undercover police, detectives.
I mean, it was absolutely crazy. I was interrogated for hours and then taken to prison. I was placed in solitary confinement. Twenty-two to 25 hours straight. Was placed in a metal box, a bigger one, then a smaller one. I was stripped naked multiple times. They sat there looking for contraband. They would not give me a Bible.
When finally I complained, over and over, they gave me a Bible, but they did not give me my glasses. I could not read. I was taken in and out of my cell, into another cell, on concrete. For hours. And then after, I was shipped to Edmonton for no reason. After 44 days, that they spent in Calgary Remont Center, where guards were inciting inmates to beat me up. They said, we're going to open Pawlowski's door by accident. Go and beat him up. We're sick of this guy. He embarrassed us. And the inmate, I was such a hero in prison. That the inmates said to them, first, we will beat you up before we will touch this man. He's an innocent man. He's a good man. He's a clergyman. We will not beat him up.
And when I was taken to my cell in concrete every day, when I was coming back, they would be yelling, free Pastor Art. Free Pastor Art. Free Pastor Art. So it was incredible solidarity coming from the inmates.
Then I was taken to Edmonton. I was placed, believe it or not, after spending 44 days, without incidents. Without any problems whatsoever. They placed me on administrative segregation in max pod. Max pod is a place, where you place the most dangerous, the most violent murderers, that attacked guards, or stabbed, murdered inmates. And they checked a box, saying that I am considered unsafe to the center and to the staff. Then a detailed description, the reason it says, here, I am looking at the documents now. Placed on administrative segregation as per senior management. So the document says, I will spend 15 to 14 days, or indefinitely, in this horrible, horrible place, alone, without being able to see another human being. And it was extremely cold, to the point, as I could not sleep. I was shivering all day, all night. And then the next day, was the bail hearing. My lawyers said, the judge what was happening to me. And I think that scared him. I don't know if you're aware. Those centers were privately owned. And it scared them. And they moved me to a psyche ward. Can you believe it? I, as a pastor, I was moved to a mental ward. And when I asked the guards, why? Where am I? What's going on? It looks like they are not accountable. Those people can do to you, whatever they want. And they were laughing, and they said, you are in the wild, wild west. And I said, what does that mean? They said, you're in a crazy ward, enjoy it. So they thought it was hilarious. Great fun. The doctor comes the next day, and says, why are you here? And I said, that's a good question, I have no idea. He said, this is outside of the (inaudible). You are not allowed to be here. This is a place for people, that we -- we decide that they need this -- you need -- people that are not mentally ill. So even the doctor was puzzled. What was going on? And then he said to me, well, this decision came outside of AHS, which is Alberta Health. And it came straight from the director. The document that was signed, dated March 24, 2022, was signed by the deputy director of Fremont Center in Edmonton. Then 4:00 in the morning, a week later, I was taken from my cell, stripped naked in front of women and men. You know, those people are humiliating anyone who comes under their supervision. You know, in quotes. Five hours on concrete, then I was shipped back to Calgary, stripped naked again. It was penalized, because when I came in, they hugged me. They cheered for me. And they yelled. Free Pastor Art. Search again. Spread your legs. Arms. You need to strip naked. Again, in time for hours on concrete. That was my last day. After 50 days, on the 51st, they let me out. There were hundreds of people that came to welcome me. And they were told, they will still there to welcome my release. I will be immediately arrested. I was told, if I even say hi to them. If I hug my children. If I hug my father, that came to welcome me, I will be rearrested again. And I'm not a free man. I am on house arrest. Facing a dozen criminal charges. For like the premier Kenney lied to --
GLENN: So --
ARTUR: Saying they cited violence towards others.
GLENN: So is this all worth it?
ARTUR: 100 percent. History is teaching it's worth it. If we will not stand up, if we will not push it, if we will not fight, if good people will not do what's right, if the light does not shine, the darkness will take over. So, yes. I was sitting in solitary confinement. I'm telling you, there were hard times. Sometimes I was crying out to God, God, take me out of this place. Please. Please, take me out of it.
God. But to fight for freedom. To fight for the children. I've got three children. And, you know, when I look at their eyes, I can say truly. Your father did what your father could. I'm not ashamed of what I'm doing. I'm standing for the truth. Others did it before me. I'm preaching the truth. I'm setting the captives free. I'm giving people hope. And I have to come back. To me, to them, and to say, yes. To do the right thing is always worth it.
GLENN: God bless you, pastor. God bless you. Thank you so much. We will continue to follow this. And please, let us know, if there's anything that we can do. You can find his story at Save Artur. A-R-T-U-R.com. SaveArtur.com. Go there now.
