David Lindsay, right, organizer of the anti-COVID-19 restriction rallies in Kelowna, walks along Kelowna's waterfront Saturday, Jan. 16.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

David Lindsay, the well-known organizer of the anti-COVID-19 restriction rallies that were taking place in Kelowna, has been charged with assault.

Lindsay, born 1964, was charged earlier this month with two counts of assault, according to court documents. The incidents are alleged to have taken place, Aug. 19, in Kelowna.

On top of the assault charges, Lindsay will also appear in court next month in Penticton facing two public health fines dating back to December 2020.

Lindsay was issued tickets for failing to wear mask in an indoor public space and abusive or belligerent behaviour.

READ MORE: The political links between racism and COVID-19 vaccination protests

Lindsay has been holding held anti-mask rallies since the early days of the pandemic.

He has long been a member of the so called Freeman-on-the-Land movement and has spent time behind bars for refusing to pay taxes. He also has close ties with notorious white supremacist Paul Fromm.

Over the years, Lindsay has made false claims that people don't need driving licences to drive cars and that paying tax is optional.

He's also said that 5G lowers the immune system making people more susceptible to COVID-19, argued that provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry should be jailed, and the pandemic isn't real.

Lindsay went to prison for not paying his taxes after failing in his argument that he was not a "person" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act.

A judge in Manitoba barred him from swearing private Informations after he issued 28 of them against police officers and court staff in that province.

Lindsay also attempts to make money off his pseudo-legal arguments, charging $25 to attend an online conference about "common law rights" surrounding COVID mandates.

READ MORE: Anti-vaccine protest at Kelowna school gets heated

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