Heather Friesen has never been one to keep quiet.

Now, with her story and message being broadcast nationwide over various mediums, she is louder than ever.

But despite all of the noise she香蕉视频直播檚 making, she still feels unheard.

As first reported in the 香蕉视频直播 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP deemed almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as 香蕉视频直播渦nfounded香蕉视频直播� in 2018.

Since then, Friesen, who was allegedly gang raped when she was 15 years old, has been on a warpath, saying that both the Kelowna RCMP and the City of Kelowna are 香蕉视频直播渟teeped in rape culture.香蕉视频直播�

In an endeavour to bring the breadth of her disdain to the attention of city officials 香蕉视频直播� specifically Mayor Colin Basran 香蕉视频直播� she staged her own one-person protest in front of city hall on Thursday morning (Nov. 14). She spent the morning leaving flyers on vehicles around city hall which called out the mayor for being a 香蕉视频直播渕an who protects rapists because he won香蕉视频直播檛 call out the RCMP.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Kelowna RCMP vow to review 香蕉视频直播榰nfounded香蕉视频直播� sexual assault cases

READ MORE: 香蕉视频直播楽teeped in rape culture香蕉视频直播�: Sexual assault survivor speaks out against Kelowna RCMP

In particular, Friesen has taken issue with the mayor香蕉视频直播檚 response to the statistics, in which he cited his confidence in the local RCMP.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 have anything further to add except that I香蕉视频直播檓 pleased that the RCMP香蕉视频直播檚 Sexual Assault Review Team is taking a further look at all the files to determine if a course correction is needed as it relates to sex-assault complaints,香蕉视频直播� said Mayor Colin Basran.

香蕉视频直播淭hrough these actions, I have complete confidence our detachment is taking this matter seriously. I want to be clear that the RCMP operates independently of the city and this is an RCMP matter. Any further questions should be directed to the RCMP detachment.香蕉视频直播�

The mayor香蕉视频直播檚 confidence in local RCMP is, in Friesen香蕉视频直播檚 view, a sign of the mayor香蕉视频直播檚 direct support for the officers who asked her if she consented to be raped and another survivor who was asked if she enjoyed it.

香蕉视频直播淪ay that to our faces,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just here to protest because I actually want Colin Basran to have the courage to come say to my face that he香蕉视频直播檚 100 per cent confident in the RCMP. Say that to the 40 per cent.香蕉视频直播�

According to Friesen, Basran is complicit in the city香蕉视频直播檚 looming rape culture because he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 understand it as he is in a position of privilege.

香蕉视频直播淎nyone that he knows who gets raped, the RCMP will take it seriously,香蕉视频直播� she said while standing outside of city hall, still holding about half of the 200 flyers she香蕉视频直播檇 brought with her.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 protected; the people he loves are protected. Those of us who don香蕉视频直播檛 have his privilege won香蕉视频直播檛 get taken seriously.

香蕉视频直播淗e doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want to get it because he香蕉视频直播檒l lose votes; he香蕉视频直播檒l lose (the RCMP香蕉视频直播檚) votes.香蕉视频直播�

While Basran has expressed his confidence in the RCMP, one of his councillors is less supportive about the situation.

香蕉视频直播淚 have a lot of regard and faith in our local RCMP. Having said that, the stats are very, very worrisome 香蕉视频直播� whichever way you look at it,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Mohini Singh.

香蕉视频直播淚 need some clarity, I need some explanation, I need to know why these cases were left unfounded.香蕉视频直播�

Singh added she has a teenage daughter and she wants to make sure the city is safe for our girls and our boys.

香蕉视频直播淚 want to know why the stats are so high and what the cause is,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 very worried about the situation.香蕉视频直播�

Singh said she香蕉视频直播檚 looking forward to a report from the RCMP香蕉视频直播檚 Sexual Assault Review Team to provide clarity on the issue.

In a Nov. 8 statement, the Kelowna RCMP said it could not provide an explanation as to why so many cases were deemed unfounded.

香蕉视频直播淲e understand that there are many questions about the roots of these statistics, and we香蕉视频直播檙e taking immediate steps to get answers,香蕉视频直播� said Cpl. Meghan Foster.

香蕉视频直播淭he BC RCMP has conducted a preliminary review of these files, but we are currently not in a position to provide specific examples of why any of these investigations were deemed unfounded. For every investigation, there are many variables 香蕉视频直播� each investigation is different and we do not want to deter any other survivors from bravely coming forward to report a sexual assault.香蕉视频直播�

The RCMP has not given a timeline as to when the Sexual Assault Review Team香蕉视频直播檚 investigation will be completed.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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