RCMP Stand Down - Greater Victoria

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/events/4635989913080387

Public · Event · by Wednesday Rallies for Ancient Forests+Forest Protectors #YYJ and Fairy Creek Blockade

 

Monday, August 23
1:00-3:00 pm
RCMP Office (
2881 Nanaimo St, Victoria, BC V8T 4Z8, Canada]
Corner of Blanshard and Topaz
Victoria


This is part of a province-wide protest against the actions of the RCMP at Fairy Creek/Ada'itsx. [See listing of other events:https://twitter.com/MSwaggernaut/status/1428975486714073088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1428975486714073088%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Fp91mru%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse We gather to demand that the RCMP stand down.

Since enforcement at Fairy Creek began in May, the RCMP have arrested more than 600 PEACEFUL VOLUNTEERS doing the job the premier promised to do: protect the VERY VERY VERY LAST of the old growth forests.

The RCMP have acted illegally and brutally. Essentially we are witnessing the actions of a police state.

Some examples of how the RCMP act illegally/unethically/brutally:

-They go out of their way to target and hurt Indigenous people and people of colour. Two young Indigenous people may not have died if they hadn't first been maltreated during their arrests at Fairy Creek by the RCMP. One, a young man with a pre-existing heart condition, had his seizure medication taken away during his arrest and died of sudden cardiac failure weeks later. Another, a minor, ODed after leaving camp. The RCMP had smashed her phone. She might not have used or might have been safe if she had been able to call or text someone.
-They have injured and traumatized many innocent people.
-There have been many incidents of officers sexually assaulting women.
-They continue to create arbitrary "exclusion zones" even though two courts have ruled these illegal. They arrest people who are inside these lines. Often, these arrests, are pretend, resulting in "catch and release."
-They have illegally arrested journalists and legal observers.
-They use heavy machinery and other dangerous methods to extract people in hazardous ways.
-They have used police helicopters, dangerously close to people, to stir up dust.
-They have pepper sprayed a crowd of nonviolent people.
-They leave people for hours with no sun protection—not only people in police wagons or locked up in hardblocks—but they have purposefully made elderly people wait on the sunny side of the road. Many people have endured serious heatstroke.
-They put plywood over people locked up in the ground and drove excavators precariously close to them.
-They DESTROYED most of HQ (and other camps) and built roads around people in blocks, then said the protesters made the messes.
-They hide their name badges but wear banned thin-blue-line patches.
-The pension fund for the RCMP owns TimberWest, part of Mosaic Forest Management. Financial company corruption of the highest order.

The RCMP are ordered and paid for by the premier and prime minister. The amount of money spent since May to hurt and, in most cases, illegally arrest nonviolent people is easily into the many tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. When capital investment of materiel and equipment is accounted for, as well as personnel training, that figure easily surpasses $100 million.

Any person who cares even slightly about democracy should be outraged.

CODE OF CONDUCT
-Look after each other. Especially on the streets. Especially the most vulnerable people.
-Nonviolent.
-Avoid blocking roads and driveways.
-Avoid engaging abusive people.
-Practice Covid protocols. Consider wearing a mask as the Delta variant rises.
-If you are approached by the media, please ask them to speak first to people who have been on the frontlines, particularly Indigenous people, queer people, women, and youths.
-Avoid smoking for the health of many of our seniors and disabled people.

Date: 
Monday, August 23, 2021 - 13:00