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Rumble & Rebel News sue MP Saks & others for conspiring to violate free speech rights
TORONTO, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rumble Canada, (NASDAQ: RUM), the high-growth video platform and cloud services provider, has joined Rebel News
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[{"type":"text","content":"TORONTO, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rumble Canada, (NASDAQ: RUM), the high-growth video platform and cloud services provider, has joined Rebel News Network and its founder, Ezra Levant, in suing the government of Canada, Member of Canadian Parliament Ya’ara Saks, and other officials, for conspiring to deprive them of their constitutional right to free expression. The lawsuit, filed today in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleges that the defendants unsuccessfully tried to block two lawful and peaceful public gatherings celebrating free speech in the Toronto area last year simply because they disagreed with the political points of view of the organizers and participants. The suit alleges that the officials tried to thwart the events, which included Donald J. Trump Jr. as a featured speaker, by imposing unreasonably high charges for security measures that were not needed and designed only to prevent the events from taking place. The plaintiffs are seeking reimbursement in the amount of $37,177.80 for the excessive security costs, $250,000 in punitive damages, and legal expenses, and have requested a trial in Toronto. Specifically, the suit alleges that the defendants tried to scuttle the events, promoted as “Rumble Live” and “Rebel News Live” on May 10 & 11, 2024, by enforcing unjustifiable fees for security measures they knew were unnecessary and exorbitant. The gatherings were planned and held by the two companies after they entered into a lawful contract to rent a venue in North York, Ontario that typically hosts wedding receptions and other private events. Referencing internal communications, the complaint alleges that the defendants had been told by local police there was no indication of planned protests or threats of unrest or violence surrounding the gatherings, yet they still imposed outrageously high security charges—more than the cost of putting on the events themselves—in a failed attempt to derail the festivities. More emails make the case that officials worked on ways to shut down the celebrations based on the political beliefs of the people they expected to be involved. “If it happens on or near our property, we might attract an undesirable crowd,” wrote one official in an email to colleagues. “I am wondering if you think there is any language within the lease agreement that would permit us to stop t...