Several sexual assault survivors and their allies took to the sidewalk out front of the Kelowna RCMP detachment on Saturday to voice their concerns surrounding Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 high number of unfounded sexual assault reports.
As first reported in the 香蕉视频直播 on Oct. 25, Statistics Canada data shows the Kelowna RCMP classified almost 40 per cent of sexual assault reports as unfounded in 2018. That number is more than double the 15 per cent average across the province and dwarfs the under five per cent averages in Vancouver and Victoria.
The protest, organized by two local rape survivors who had their reports deemed as such, Heather Friesen and Aden Withers, called for better officers, training and an external investigation of the Kelowna RCMP. Currently, the RCMP香蕉视频直播檚 Sexual Assault Review Team is in the midst of reviewing the numbers.
香蕉视频直播淭he RCMP can not investigate itself,香蕉视频直播� said Friesen.
READ MORE: Protest planned against Kelowna RCMP香蕉视频直播檚 high unfounded sexual assault numbers
READ MORE: Kelowna mayor apologizes for initial reaction to sexual assault statistics
Donning signs reading, 香蕉视频直播渞ape culture lives here香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淩CMP serves and protects rapists,香蕉视频直播� among several others, the protesters chanted at Kelowna RCMP building. 香蕉视频直播淲e represent the 40 per cent, we represent the 40 per cent!香蕉视频直播� the group of around 25 shouted towards the detachment.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e here protesting the rape culture within the Kelowna RCMP,香蕉视频直播� said Friesen, who was allegedly gang-raped when she was 15.
香蕉视频直播淚 have had multiple women come up to me and tell me that the RCMP aren香蕉视频直播檛 even willing to take their statements. The 40 per cent unfounded isn香蕉视频直播檛 a true representation of what香蕉视频直播檚 going on. So, I don香蕉视频直播檛 believe 40 per cent is true 香蕉视频直播� I believe it香蕉视频直播檚 higher.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not here about me being raped; we香蕉视频直播檙e not here about any of these women being raped. We香蕉视频直播檙e here about the RCMP not doing their jobs.香蕉视频直播�
Withers came to the protest with a red handprint painted on her face, representing missing and murdered indigenous women, a group which she said is heavily intertwined with and targeted by rape culture.
香蕉视频直播淚 was targeted because I was part of the Aboriginal ministry,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淏eing targeted even with the white-passing privilege that I have opened my eyes to how Indigenous people of Canada are truly treated and it香蕉视频直播檚 disgusting.香蕉视频直播�
During the rally, Withers spoke of her experience reporting to RCMP, citing the brutal and victimizing questioning she endured, in which she was asked if she was 香蕉视频直播渢urned on香蕉视频直播� while she was raped.
Friesen, who has been very vocal since the numbers were released, taking on the RCMP and even the mayor, said she holds no shame regarding what happened to her.
香蕉视频直播淢y rapists hold all the shame, my friends hold all the shame, the RCMP hold all the shame,香蕉视频直播� she said.
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.
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