International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation Volume 6 2023 22
which are references to executions. Didulo’s threats
culminated in her detention by law enforcement
on November 27, 2021, allegedly for ordering her
followers to “shoot to kill” healthcare workers involved
in administering COVID-19 vaccines (Russell &
Bell, 2021). Didulo was taken to a local hospital for
psychiatric assessment and subsequently released.
Didulo announced on her Telegram page that she was
“#cleared by the Psychiatrist at Jubilee Hospital, that
same afternoon.” No formal criminal charges were
filed.
E. January 2022 to Current: The Canada-wide Tours
Before January 2022, most of Didulo’s communications
took place via Telegram. That changed when she
began touring Canada in RVs with a group of her 11
closest followers. This group traveled to Parliament
Hill during the Freedom Convoy events in Canada
on February 3, 2021 (Lofaro, 2021). Thousands of
protestors converged in downtown Ottawa to express
their dissatisfaction with vaccine mandates and other
government COVID-19 mitigation steps (Ottawa
People’s Commission, 2023 see also Rouleau (2023)
for more details). The occupation lasted 21 days and
was described by observers as disruptive and violent
(Ottawa People’s Commission, 2023). There Didulo
held a ceremony and burned the Canadian flag (see
Figure 5). Symbolically, that step was important to her
and her followers. The flag burning meant that the
Canadian “corporate flag” was gone. Didulo was now in
charge of the “Kingdom of Canada.” She also declared
“marshal law,” which remains in effect until she says
otherwise. Didulo has spoken about the importance of
that particular flag burning on a number of occasions,
though some of her ex-followers believe that action
hurt her cause (Lamoureux, 2022b). She and her
followers recently celebrated the one-year anniversary
of her burning the Canadian flag. Didulo also contends
that Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of
Canada, is not really in charge. Trudeau is either an
actor, a robot, or a computer-generated imagery (CGI)
creation.
Since that time, Didulo and the members of her inner
circle have travelled across Canada. The group is now on
its third tour. They sleep in multiple RVs, and constantly
relocate, with occasional stays at campgrounds and
the private property of acquaintances. Each member
Figure 5 -Romana Didulo and others burning the Canadian
flag on Parliament Hill on February 3, 2022.
of Didulo’s inner circle wears a uniform, consisting
of all white shirts, pants, shoes, and hats (see Figure
6). This uniform is a symbolic representation of their
status as QAnon “white hats,” the people they believe
are the “good” ones. Didulo’s group travel to various
towns and hold meet and-greets. These events typically
only attract a few attendees. The maximum observed
group was around 50 (Lamoureux, 2022b). Members
of Didulo’s convoy are referred to as “his excellency” or
“her excellency.” Each has a specific role: a chauffeur,
a “press secretary,” and others. Didulo’s escort spend
their days cleaning, doing laundry, fixing the RVs,
planning meet and-greet locations, and tending to
Didulo’s needs and demands. During the meet-and-
greets, Didulo gives speeches, all of which are video
recorded and uploaded to her Telegram channels.
These speeches are typically formulaic and repetitive,
and contain re-occurring themes that will be described
in more detail below. More recently, Didulo has been
traveling less and holding live streams, “coffee with
Romana” styled events, where Didulo speaks directly
to her followers, often asking for money for herself and
her crew members to continue their travels.
Since that time, Didulo and the members of her inner
circle have travelled across Canada. The group is now on
its third tour. They sleep in multiple RVs, and constantly
relocate, with occasional stays at campgrounds and
the private property of acquaintances. Each member
of Didulo’s inner circle wears a uniform, consisting
which are references to executions. Didulo’s threats
culminated in her detention by law enforcement
on November 27, 2021, allegedly for ordering her
followers to “shoot to kill” healthcare workers involved
in administering COVID-19 vaccines (Russell &
Bell, 2021). Didulo was taken to a local hospital for
psychiatric assessment and subsequently released.
Didulo announced on her Telegram page that she was
“#cleared by the Psychiatrist at Jubilee Hospital, that
same afternoon.” No formal criminal charges were
filed.
E. January 2022 to Current: The Canada-wide Tours
Before January 2022, most of Didulo’s communications
took place via Telegram. That changed when she
began touring Canada in RVs with a group of her 11
closest followers. This group traveled to Parliament
Hill during the Freedom Convoy events in Canada
on February 3, 2021 (Lofaro, 2021). Thousands of
protestors converged in downtown Ottawa to express
their dissatisfaction with vaccine mandates and other
government COVID-19 mitigation steps (Ottawa
People’s Commission, 2023 see also Rouleau (2023)
for more details). The occupation lasted 21 days and
was described by observers as disruptive and violent
(Ottawa People’s Commission, 2023). There Didulo
held a ceremony and burned the Canadian flag (see
Figure 5). Symbolically, that step was important to her
and her followers. The flag burning meant that the
Canadian “corporate flag” was gone. Didulo was now in
charge of the “Kingdom of Canada.” She also declared
“marshal law,” which remains in effect until she says
otherwise. Didulo has spoken about the importance of
that particular flag burning on a number of occasions,
though some of her ex-followers believe that action
hurt her cause (Lamoureux, 2022b). She and her
followers recently celebrated the one-year anniversary
of her burning the Canadian flag. Didulo also contends
that Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of
Canada, is not really in charge. Trudeau is either an
actor, a robot, or a computer-generated imagery (CGI)
creation.
Since that time, Didulo and the members of her inner
circle have travelled across Canada. The group is now on
its third tour. They sleep in multiple RVs, and constantly
relocate, with occasional stays at campgrounds and
the private property of acquaintances. Each member
Figure 5 -Romana Didulo and others burning the Canadian
flag on Parliament Hill on February 3, 2022.
of Didulo’s inner circle wears a uniform, consisting
of all white shirts, pants, shoes, and hats (see Figure
6). This uniform is a symbolic representation of their
status as QAnon “white hats,” the people they believe
are the “good” ones. Didulo’s group travel to various
towns and hold meet and-greets. These events typically
only attract a few attendees. The maximum observed
group was around 50 (Lamoureux, 2022b). Members
of Didulo’s convoy are referred to as “his excellency” or
“her excellency.” Each has a specific role: a chauffeur,
a “press secretary,” and others. Didulo’s escort spend
their days cleaning, doing laundry, fixing the RVs,
planning meet and-greet locations, and tending to
Didulo’s needs and demands. During the meet-and-
greets, Didulo gives speeches, all of which are video
recorded and uploaded to her Telegram channels.
These speeches are typically formulaic and repetitive,
and contain re-occurring themes that will be described
in more detail below. More recently, Didulo has been
traveling less and holding live streams, “coffee with
Romana” styled events, where Didulo speaks directly
to her followers, often asking for money for herself and
her crew members to continue their travels.
Since that time, Didulo and the members of her inner
circle have travelled across Canada. The group is now on
its third tour. They sleep in multiple RVs, and constantly
relocate, with occasional stays at campgrounds and
the private property of acquaintances. Each member
of Didulo’s inner circle wears a uniform, consisting
